In a dual joy, Tamil Nadu has registered an increase in the population of Dagongs, a regional -end endangered species, and the state’s efforts to protect the sea mammals, which were once on the verge of extinction, have won international recognition as a model. The government has contributed to the recovery of mammals in Tamilan Bay, focusing on the recovery of mammals in Tamilan Bay, and a multi-dimensional protection effort by the government supported by the Government of India (WII), a multi-dimensional protection effort, rescue and release, community participation and prevention of housing restoration and the Gulf of Tallanar (PB-Gome area).
Usually known as sea cows, dagongsDagong Dagon)) Often “farmers or gardeners are referred to as sea farmers or gardeners” to protect coastal ecosystems and help fish production. Three meters long and weighing over 400 kg, these are found in warm water with gentle giant beaches, mainly limited to segras beds that occur in cool shelter houses such as bay and lagoon. They are found in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Kutch’s Gulf and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India. Dagongs are primarily vegetarian, grazing 30 kg -40 kg in a day.
This species is listed as weakened to extinct in the protection of the International Union (IUCN) red list. Once abundant in Indian water, Dagongs is preserved under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. But his population was on a decline due to various factors in the last several decades, including hunting for meat, commercial fishing practices due to accidental drowning and deterioration of the residence.
In a major measure to protect the species, the government, in September 2022, notified 448.34 square kilometers in the Northern Pock Bay as a Dagong Conservation Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The region is a home of more than 12,250 hectares of sea grasslands, which is an important feeding ground for Dagong.
IUCN recognition
Last week, IUCN formally adopted a proposal to recognize India’s first Dagong Conservation Reserve, which spread over Palk Gulf spread over Thajavur and Pudukkottai districts. OMCAR (Organization for Organization for Organization, Awareness and Research) Foundation proposed by the Foundation, a non-profit involved in conservation efforts, IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi was adopted in 2025, with heavy support from members worldwide in online voting. Chief Minister MK Stalin faced X to appreciate the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Conservation partners for efforts to declare it and to get recognition.
The speed recognized and appreciated the establishment of a reserve as “significant steps towards marine biodiversity conservation in South Asia and a globally for Dagong protection”. It also welcomed the innovative eco-friendly restoration techniques, including the use of bamboo frames to promote the recovery of the Cigras residence.
Big Push: The state has decided to set up an international Dagong Conservation Center at Manora in Thazavur with Pock Bay. The center will be a center of information and activity and an eco-tourism site. , Photo Credit: M. statue
The cake was recognized as a recent survey conducted by WII, which is most important of the three mammals in India, pointing to an increase in the population of Dagongs in the PB-GOM area. The drone survey conducted by WII between March and May this year has estimated that the region is now home to more than 200 Dagongs.
“We have completed the drone survey, with a standardized technique, from Edhirampattinam to Ammapattinam, Dagong Conservation has been covered by Palk Bay area in the reserve area, besides the southern pock bay region in Ramanathapuram division and the Gulf of Mannar, soon with a Dagong Alagi, a scientific, Wii, said a scientific, Wii, Wii, Wii. HinduAccording to him, the country was estimated to have around 250 Dagong in three houses in 2012-13. Looking at the huge sea meadows here, the Tamil Nadu coast was always the largest population.
India is believed to have a large Dagong population 70-80 years ago, but many of them were hunted for meat before years, as they were legally preserved, of. Shivkumar, former Chief Scientist, WII, currently a professor in the Department of Ecology and Environment of Pondichari University. He said, “Animals had no direct vision by researchers after the 1970s. In the early 2000s, we thought it could be extinct and in 2008, I proposed a study,” he misses. Subsequently, the central government formed a task force for the conservation of Dagongs in India, and a National Dugong Recovery Program was started in partnership with the governments of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were already meeting for conservation efforts. The initiative was also funded by the Compresening Forest Management and Planning Authority (CAMMA) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Investigated illegal check
“The first step was to stop the poaching. Thanks to the awareness measures, the poaching is now almost eliminated, although the examples of the dagongs getting stuck in the fishing trap and drowning (often should have a surface to breathe) are being informed spatittily. The Shivkumar adds.
Dr. Johnson said, “Conservation efforts have definitely contributed to increased number. Tamil Nadu Forest Department has been active and the participation of local communities and NGOs is also commendable. The notification of the Reserve was a big step as it presented a lot of challenges,” Dr. Johnson said.
“The return of Dagong shows how government action, science and community can script a rare species of revival together,” said Tamil Nadu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Jungle, Supriya Sahu. HinduHe blamed the success of strong political will, bureaucracy commitment and conservation efforts of excellent execution strategy in the state. “The action initiated in the last four years is part of a large vision of the state government – that protection is a priority. Every species is important and it is a legacy we are making for the next generation. It’s a very strong conservation pitch,” she said.
The state, he said, went about Dagong protection in a very systematic way. “We started with a lot of research, scientific evidence and data. The species are highly endangered and if we have not provided legal protection, they can be extinct,” he said, the reserve notification has been stated as a strong legal and revolutionary action taken by the state.
This, he said, he was supported by measures aimed at restoring the residence of the habitat, and Fisarfok was included to include the first respondents in the rescue efforts to include local communities. “Dagongs are important in protecting the coastal ecosystem. Restoration of the habitat is very important; If the housing disappears, the species disappear. So we said to the National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management, Suganthi Devdasana Marine Research Institute and local NGOs, such as Omkar Foundation,” He said. ” Initially, activities were taken under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which was with the Tamil Nadu biodiversity protection and greening project for climate change reaction and other projects. Now, the initiatives are also supported under the Tamil Nadu coastal restoration mission.
Since community participation for sustainable conservation is very important, about 150 awareness programs have been organized between Fisarfok and Self-Help Group members to make them sensitive to the importance of dagong protection and how they are saved when they get entangled in fishing nets. Thanks to the programs, nine rescues have been made in the last two years. “We are also compensating fishermen for the loss of nets that are cut during rescue. We also recognize fishermen for such acts of stewardships through a reward program. The government, local communities, research institutes and NGOs have ralled around Dagong,” Sushu Sahu said.
In Pudukotai, a forest department official said, “The outreach program was part of the strategy to convey the message to the coastal villagers that the safety of Dagongs and their houses would be beneficial for fishermen in the long run.”
As part of the outreach, a scholarship program was introduced for the children of Fisarfok as a socio-economic survey indicated a high dropout rate among school students in coastal villages as a socio-economic survey. Dr. Says Shivkumar, “We called him Dagong Ambassador and reached the fishermen through him to change the mentality.”
With sensitization programs, the Forest Department in Pudukotai and Thanjavur served to restore the Cigrass Meadows with the participation of the Omkar Foundation. Omkar Foundation Director V. Balaji said, “Restoration is a laborious exercise and takes time; we are involving fishermen not only in rescue and release of Dagongs but also in restoration.” The Dagong Conservation Reserve at Pock Bay was restored on the sites selected on the basis of drone imagery. In Pudukotai district, it covered a distance of 1,000 square meters to install sea grass patches in 10 different sites using eco-friendly bamboo frames and coir ropes.
The official said that biodegradable materials were used to ensure permanent restoration without any damage to the natural environment below the sea. Local Fisarfoch, Including Healthy Cigrass Sprigs Ciringodium isotifolium, Shirulata And Pinifolia Carefully transplanted into the area specified in the sea. The official said that a similar initiative at 1,000 square meters was taken with the coastal areas of Valluvanapattinam and Somnathpattinam in Thanjavur district. “In the last four years, we have restored 31 acres of maritime residence under various projects including TN-Kanare,” Ms. Sahu said.
Conservation center
The state also decided to set up an international Dagong Conservation Center in Manora, a popular picnic spot with Pock Bay. “It will be a unique center with multiple elements. It will give another push to raise awareness and keep the species in mind so that it rallies everyone. Center will be a center of information and activity for researchers and students. It will also be an eco-tourism site. This tendering process is going on, and we are evaluating the bid,” he said.
Despite the success of the efforts, experts say that a lot of work is still to be done. Dr. Balaji said, “Cigrass beds are often damaged in addition to the drag nets and other factors other than the movement of the country’s boats. We continue to sensitize fishermen on such issues.” Experts also emphasize the need for strong regional cooperation, especially with Sri Lanka, because Dagong travels long distances and moves from the Tamil Nadu coast to the Sri Lankan coasts. Underlining the importance of maintaining conservation efforts, Dr. Shivkumar said, “Now that we have started looking at the results, we should not allow them to be ruined.”
