A Recent Study Notes 13 Direct Sightings Of The Mammal In Gulf Of Kutch Ahmedabad: The rare dugong, also known as ‘sea cow’, is happily grazing underwater off the Gujarat coast. Until now, wildlife experts had known about the existence of the marine mammal largely through carcasses being washed ashore along the state and sightings by fishermen. But now there is some concrete evidence. A recently-concluded study by Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation has found trails of dugong in Gulf of Kutch, Pirotan island and even Bet Dwarka. The study, sponsored by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and (MoEF), estimates that there are about 250 dugongs in India – the highest being in the Gulf of Mannar on the southern coast followed by Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Palk Bay and the Gulf of Kutch. “There have been some 13 direct sightings of dugongs in Gulf of Kutch. Local fishermen claim many more,” said Bharat Pathak, director, GEER Foundation. Besides, some sightings have happened near Porbandar too. “Porbandar is a new area and we will be able to say more about it only after we get some evidence,” said Pathak. The herbivorous mammal is usually found in calm sheltered, nutrient-rich water less than five metres deep, generally in bays, shallow islands and reef areas which are protected against strong winds and heavy seas, and which contain extensive sea grass beds, say GEER officials. These habitats have made Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar Islands ideal for dugongs. A senior GEER official said about 250 dugongs were illegally caught and butchered in Gulf of Mannar by some local villagers between April 1983 and August 1984. This clearly shows that the Gulf of Mannar had a good population of dugongs. Illegal poaching, however, has put its population under severe threat. Know the dugong Is a large marine herbivorous mammal, dependent on sea grasses for survival and restricted to coastal habitats. Is hunted for its meat and oil. With its lifespan of about 70 years and slow rate of reproduction, the dugong is vulnerable to extinction