Man arrested with sea cow flesh in Mannar

Colombo, April 7 (Daily Mirror) - A man was arrested by wildlife officers from the Vavuniya Wildlife Zone and the Mannar site for possessing one kilogram of sea cow (Dugong dugon) flesh.

The arrest followed information received by the wildlife officers. The sea cow flesh was found at the suspect's residence.

The suspect was produced before the Mannar Magistrate and later released on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000. The case is scheduled to be heard on May 8.

The dugong (Dugong dugon), commonly known as the sea cow, a marine mammal belonging to the Sirenia family, inhabits the seagrass meadows along the northern and northwestern coasts of Sri Lanka, particularly near the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. 

Sea cows play a vital role in maintaining and nourishing the seagrass ecosystem, which supports a wide variety of marine life. Seagrass ecosystems also help purify seawater and prevent coastal erosion. Their destruction leads to numerous environmental issues.

Sea cows help control the growth of algae and other plant species in the warm, shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. They are protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. These rare animals are facing extinction due to illegal hunting for meat, marine pollution, and destructive fishing practices.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has implemented various measures to protect these endangered animals. 

If anyone has any information about individuals hunting sea cows, the Department urges them to call the emergency hotline: 1992.