Sea cows disappearing from Gulf of Mannar

Commonly known as the sea cow, Dugong dugon fights for survival in Indian waters, especially near the Gulf of Mannar region. Their numbers have been dwindling due to an increase in fishing with banned equipment.
Environmentalists have urged the Centre to take steps to announce the sea cow, an endangered species, a national animal, just as it had decided to declare the freshwater dolphin a national water animal at a recent meeting in New Delhi.
In 1990, the Western Indian Ocean Dugong Research Programme was launched. In an aerial survey conducted as part of the programme, it was revealed that the dugongs had become extinct in Seychelles, Mauritius and Tanzania. The population has also come down considerably in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar area... Read Full Article by S Raja