With reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.It is a herbivorous marine animal.
- 2.It is found along the entire coast of India.
- 3.It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1 and 3
The dugong, or 'sea cow', is a plant-eating mammal that lives only in the sea. It is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. In India it occurs only in a few patches of coastal water, not along the whole coast.
- ✓ 1. The dugong is the only herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea. It grazes on seagrass beds in shallow coastal waters.
- ✗ 2. In India, dugongs occur only in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where seagrass meadows exist. They are absent from most of the Indian coastline.
- ✓ 3. The dugong is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This gives it the highest level of legal protection: hunting it and trading in it are prohibited and punishable.
Remember · Dugong (sea cow): marine herbivore of seagrass beds; in India found only in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar; Schedule I of WPA 1972.
Sources
- Task Force Report, Dugong in India (Final Report) – national action plan hosted on dugongseagrass.org ↗ · reference work “it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Dugongs are protected in India and occur in Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar islands.”
- Government of Tamil Nadu press release on Palk Bay Dugong Conservation Reserve (hosted by CMS) ↗ “Dugongs are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. However, their population is on the decline due to habitat loss.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
