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Community interviews on the status of the dugong ( Dugong dugon ) in the Gulf of Mannar (India and Sri Lanka)
Author(s) -
Ilangakoon Anoukchika D.,
Sutaria Dipani,
Hines Ellen,
Raghavan Roopali
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00209.x
Subject(s) - sri lanka , tamil , geography , iucn red list , ecology , biology , art , tanzania , environmental planning , literature
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists the dugong (Dugong dugon) as vulnerable throughout its range (IUCN 2006). The Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, located between northwest Sri Lanka and southeast India (Fig. 1) in the northern Indian Ocean, is known to be an area where dugongs were abundant historically (Haley 1883, Phillips 1927). Dugongs are presently considered endangered in both countries and are legally protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection\udOrdinance of Sri Lanka (1970) and theWildlife Protection Act of India (1972). Marine protected areas (MPAs) in both countries cover small parts of the known dugong habitat in the Gulf of Mannar, the Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary (306.7 km2\udin extent) in Sri Lanka, and the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (21 islands on the Indian side of the Gulf of Mannar) in India