By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
A dugong weighing close to 300 kg was found dead on the Sethukkarai beach near Thirupullani in Ramanathapuram on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, fishermen identified the dead marine mammal on the shore of Sethukkarai near the Southern Gulf of Mannar.
Subsequently, they informed the Keelakarai Forest Department officials.
Following this, Range Officer Kowshika along with other personnel inspected the dead dugong. After the post-mortem, the carcass was buried there.
According to Forest Department officials, the dead female dugong was estimated to be 8 to 9 years old, weighing 300 kilograms, with a length of 300 cm, a width of 115 cm, and a circumference of 230 cm.
The forest officials said that the cause of death—whether it was hit by rocks or an illness—would only be known after obtaining the post-mortem report.
