Dugongs:
The Union government’s Expert Appraisal Committee (MoEFCC) has asked Tamil Nadu to revise the design of the proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora (Thanjavur).Dugong is a large, slow-moving marine mammal, commonly called a “sea cow”, that feeds exclusively on seagrass.It is a keystone species, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy seagrass meadows.Scientific name: Dugong dugon.Found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.Lives mainly in seagrass meadows, estuaries, lagoons, and nearshore areas.Unlike manatees, dugongs are strictly marine and do not enter freshwater.IUCN status: Vulnerable.
