RAMANATHAPURAM: The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park authorities have sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, seeking funds for sea-grass rehabilitation project. The project aims at creating habitats and source of food in shallow water for dugong (sea-cow), a critically endangered species and the only existing herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea in India.
Wildlife Warden of the Park T K Ashok Kumar said that sea-grass would be planted in one sq km, wherever required, around Kariyachalli island using the modules made of PVC pipes and jute fibre after receiving the fund from the ministry.
“Earlier, we recovered sea-grass from Mandapam and Thondi shores. By doing so, we can increase population of the dugong that is believed to be declining,” he added.Dugongs are solely dependent on sea-grass in coastal areas, which have now been damaged due to various reasons. “We will identify the area where they were damaged or unavailable and plant new sea-grass,” said, Kumar.
Population of Dugongs
Talking about the dugong population, Kumar said that as per a census conducted between 2007 and 2009, approximately 77-158 individuals resided in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.“Also, a mere 44-81 and 10-15 individuals were available in Andaman and Nicobar islands and Gujarat seashores respectively,” he added.