Three instances of Dugongs rescued by fishermen of coastal Pudukottai district have been reported in quick intervals during this month. The marine mammal — commonly known as sea cow — got entangled in the fishing gear of fibre boat fishermen while they were engaged in fishing off the Pudukottai coast. The trapped Dugongs were rescued and safely released into the sea by the fishermen of Ponnagaram and Therkku Pudhukudi coastal villages on February 6, 11, and 20.
Similar instances of rescue of trapped Dugongs by fishermen and their safe release into the sea were reported in various coastal villages last year too. A Forest department official said six cases of rescue were reported in February, June, and July last year. The fishermen involved in the rescue acts belonged to Krishnajipattinam, Ponnagaram, Ammapattinam, Muthurajapuram, and Sanguthoppu.
The fishermen record video with their mobile phones of the trapped Dugong and their safe release into the sea and send them to the Forest department officials. The department has been providing cash incentives to fishermen for their rescue act besides helping them repair the fishing nets damaged in the process.
The rescue acts by fishermen is being attributed to the sustained awareness programmes being organised by the Forest department explaining to them the importance of conservation of Dugong and other endangered marine species and protection of their habitats. The awareness programmes has had positive response which is evident from the rescue of the trapped Dugong and their safe release into the sea, the official said.
