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Scars of hope and forewarn of a bleak future: Post-mortem findings of dugongs (Dugong dugon) belonging to a relict population in the Gulf of Kachchh, India

View ORCID ProfileSameeha Pathan, View ORCID ProfileAnant Pande, J.A. Johnson, View ORCID ProfileKuppusamy Sivakumar
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.21.473634
Sameeha Pathan
Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
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Anant Pande
Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
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J.A. Johnson
Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
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Kuppusamy Sivakumar
Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
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  • For correspondence: ksivakumar@wii.gov.in
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Abstract

A relict dugong population resides in the Gulf of Kachchh in Gujarat state of India. Very little is known on this population stemming from lack of focused studies and inadequate examinations of previous strandings. In this study, crucial ecological information is gathered through a systematic necropsy on stranded dugongs in the gulf. As indicated through dorsal tusk-rake scars on both the carcasses, this study presents first records of derivative physical evidence to the presence of a socially interacting population. Progressive healing and differences in width of the scars indicated more than two individuals had participated in a sexual agnostic or courtship event. Conversely, our findings report that both the animals suffered relative effects of asphyxiation after fishing net entanglement. An implication of a prior pathological condition(s) in the form of dermal cysts, swollen mesenteric lymph nodes, and endoparasites are also reported. Stomach content was examined for a qualitative dietary characterization. Other potential threats along with fishing net microfilaments found in the stomach contents of both dugongs are discussed in brief.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Footnotes

  • Funding- National CAMPA Advisory Council (NCAC), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Grant/Award number: 13-28(01)/2015-CAMPA;

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
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Posted December 23, 2021.
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Scars of hope and forewarn of a bleak future: Post-mortem findings of dugongs (Dugong dugon) belonging to a relict population in the Gulf of Kachchh, India
Sameeha Pathan, Anant Pande, J.A. Johnson, Kuppusamy Sivakumar
bioRxiv 2021.12.21.473634; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.21.473634
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Scars of hope and forewarn of a bleak future: Post-mortem findings of dugongs (Dugong dugon) belonging to a relict population in the Gulf of Kachchh, India
Sameeha Pathan, Anant Pande, J.A. Johnson, Kuppusamy Sivakumar
bioRxiv 2021.12.21.473634; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.21.473634

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