India joins global efforts to protect Dugongs or Sea Cows

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orts_to_protect_Dugongs_or_Sea_Cows/articleshow/2944681.cms

NEW DELHI: India on Friday decided to join global efforts to protect and
conserve Dugongs or Sea Cows, an endangered species found along the
coastlines of Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to enable India joining the
Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation and management of
Dugongs and their habitat throughout their range.

"With this decision, the Indian efforts for conservation of Dugongs
would get international recognition," Science and Technology Minister
Kapil Sibal told reporters here.

He said the protection, monitoring and management of this endangered
species in the Indian waters would now become more effective. It would
also facilitate availability of international expertise to carry out
research studies on Dugongs in the area, Sibal said.

Dugong (Dugong Dugon) or Sea Cow is the only herbivorous mammal that is
strictly marine and the only member of the Order Sirenia found in India.
They are restricted to the coastal shallow marine habitats where ample
food is available.

The Sea Cows found in the Indian coastal waters are legally protected
under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, besides the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora and
the Convention of Migratory Species. India is a signatory to both the
Conventions.