Timeline: 2023 - present

For over a decade, dugong research in the Andaman Islands has revealed vital feeding grounds across seagrass meadows. However, recent observations indicate shifts in dugong meadow use, prompting an investigation into the causes behind these changes. Due to the challenges posed by elusive dugong sightings and the increasing crocodile populations, traditional in-water surveys became less feasible. Consequently, bioacoustics monitoring was introduced as an innovative method to explore dugong habitat use and assess the impact of rising vessel traffic on this vulnerable population.

Project objectives:

• Investigate dugong habitat use in seagrass meadows through acoustic monitoring of dugong vocalisations

• Analyse the spatio-temporal relationship between dugong presence and vessel traffic at various study sites

Since acoustic research on dugongs is still in its early stages in India, this study seeks to bridge gaps in understanding the effects of vessel traffic on their feeding behaviour. So far, we have established baseline data on dugong vocalisations and boat activity across several islands. Our findings confirm that acoustic studies offer a reliable approach to tracking these rare and fragmented populations. 

As tourism in the Andamans expands, understanding the overlap between dugong home ranges and high-traffic areas is crucial to implementing conservation strategies. Protecting these gentle giants, who are gradually vanishing from the region, will require targeted interventions to minimise human impact on their habitats.