Previous Year Question
With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
It is a herbivorous marine animal.
It is found along the entire coast of India.
It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The scientific name of the dugong is Dugong dugon, and it is commonly called the ‘sea cow’.
It is a marine mammal belonging to the order Sirenia.
It breathes air and comes to the water surface at regular intervals to breathe.
The dugong is herbivorous and depends mainly on seagrass growing in shallow coastal areas.
It feeds by uprooting or grazing seagrass from the seabed.
Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.
The distribution of the dugong is restricted to warm, shallow and relatively protected coastal waters containing seagrass meadows.
In India, its major populations are found in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It is not continuously distributed along the entire coast of India.
Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect.
The dugong was accorded a high level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Legal prohibitions apply to its hunting, capture and trade.
Therefore, Statement 3 is correct.
Destruction of seagrass meadows, entanglement in fishing nets, boat activities and illegal hunting are its major threats.