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Population of Dugongs in Tamil Nadu
February 8 , 2026
12 hrs 0 min
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- The dugong population in Tamil Nadu has been estimated at 270 individuals.
- Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar now represent the largest viable dugong population in India.
- A survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
- It found 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 dugongs in the Gulf of Mannar.
- This increase is largely attributed to the Dugong Recovery Programme by WII, supported through the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
- The Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, covering 448 square kilometres of core habitat, has also been notified.
- The survey was UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)-based, following standardised protocols, and is the first systematic aerial population estimate in the region.
- Earlier estimates in 2012-2013, based on interviews, suggested about 175 dugongs.
- Surveys were conducted along fixed 3 km transects, limited by drone endurance, battery life, and coastal safety; some dugongs moving to deeper waters may not have been counted.
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