Vanishing sirens: an account of the dugong population of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, India

Research and monitoring over the last decade has shown that the present dugong population of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in India occur in small, almost isolated pockets across the island chain. Fewer than fifty... [ view full abstract ]

Research and monitoring over the last decade has shown that the present dugong population of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in India occur in small, almost isolated pockets across the island chain. Fewer than fifty individuals are present in these waters and whenever sighted, have been solitary individuals; rarely in pairs.  These animals persistently use a few seagrass meadows and this further exposes them to threats prevailing at the sites. Entanglement in fishing nets, high-speed boats and hunting by aboriginal tribes continue to affect the animal and its habitat. By assessing threats to the animal and habitat  and the suitability of the habitat, we identify ways in which management authorities can conserve the remnant dugong population of the archipelago.