Overview
- IUCN members at the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi adopted a motion recognizing the reserve, with 98% of governments and 94.8% of organizations voting in favor.
- Proposed by the Omcar Foundation, Resolution 025 recognizes India’s first statutory Dugong Conservation Reserve in northern Palk Bay and urges knowledge-sharing with global dugong programs.
- Established on September 21, 2022 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the reserve spans 448.34 sq km and safeguards key habitat in Tamil Nadu.
- The area holds over 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows that dugongs rely on, with the motion flagging habitat loss, destructive fishing practices and climate impacts as urgent threats.
- The resolution calls for stronger monitoring, capacity building for sustainable fisheries and replication of the model, as Tamil Nadu cites a Wildlife Institute of India drone survey finding over 200 dugongs and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin welcomes the recognition.