As global sea cow (dugong) populations have been declining and the species classified as “vulnerable to extinction,” countries with surviving population of the animal need all the help they can get to help the elusive marine mammal. Since January,2015, the Dugong and Sea grass Conservation Project, financially supported by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNEP, and executed by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, has been helping to enhance the conservation effectiveness of sea grass ecosystems that support populations of dugongs, across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, UNEP’s Max Zieren said. In Sri Lanka, the exact population of sea cows has not yet been established but what is certain is that its population in the country is “low” due to destructive fishing practices, said International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) project manager Arjan Rajasuriya.

De Vera-Ruiz, E. (2017, March 30). Countries move to save sea cow population. Manila Bulletin, p. B-8.