Dugong rescued and released near Thanjavur, India

Thanjavur, India, 26 July 2018- A 12-feet male dugong caught while fishing was rescued and released by fishermen with the assistance of marine police and forest personnel in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The dugong was unintentionally caught in a shore seine and was released by local fisherman who have been trained in capacity building under the ‘Friends of Dugong’ programme, a joint initiative by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Forest Department. OMCAR Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on preserving dugong and their habitats in the region, was also involved in the rescue efforts. Prem Jothi, marine biologist from WII, notes that this is the third dugong rescue from this location.