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RAS question

The IUCN conservation status of Dugong is:

Correct answer: (B) Vulnerable.

The dugong, also called the sea cow, is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN conservation scale.

  1. (A)

    Near Threatened

  2. (B)

    Vulnerable

  3. (C)

    Data Deficient

  4. (D)

    Least Concern

Explanation

The CMS Dugong MoU species page identifies Dugong dugon, or the sea cow, and lists its IUCN status as Vulnerable. That is why option B fits the question directly. In the Indian context, the dugong is India’s only herbivorous marine mammal, feeds on sea grass beds, and is found around the Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and Nicobar, and the Gulf of Kutch. Its small Indian population, roughly 200-250, is under pressure from fishing nets and habitat loss. India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu, notified in 2022, is therefore linked to the same conservation concern rather than to a lower-risk category.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Near Threatened is a lower-risk category than the status asked here; the CMS Dugong MoU species page lists the dugong as Vulnerable.
  • (C) Data Deficient would mean the status is not assessed with enough information, whereas the CMS Dugong MoU species page gives a definite IUCN status: Vulnerable.
  • (D) Least Concern is incompatible with the threats of fishing nets and habitat loss and with the CMS listing of the dugong as Vulnerable.

Concept

This tests IUCN conservation-status mapping for an important marine mammal. It recurs in RAS because Environment questions often connect species status with Indian habitats, threats, and recent conservation measures.

Source

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