Species

DUGONG (Dugong dugong)

Dugong is a marine mammal found near the shallow mouth of the estuarine habitat towards the seaward side. It is about 1 to 4 mts long weighing about 230 to 900 kg. Its average lifespan is 50 years. It feeds mainly on algae and other vegetation. The dead bodies found in Poshitra and Okha proves the presence of this animal. This may be a seasonal migratory animal, but there is no proof to this hypothesis available. IUCN has put this animal in the category of at the verge of extinction.

NILGAI OR BLUE BULL (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

The largest member of the antelope family. The Male animal is usually 55 inches tall with dark bluish black body and a white patch on throat and above the ankles. The male also has beard like distinct hair on the throat. The horns are cone shaped and small and present only on males. The females are smaller to the males and browner in colour with lighter underparts. Nigais are competent runners and only a very strong horse can compete with the male antelope. The females and young are usually seen together in a group while the male is usually sighted solitarily. Nilgais usually avoid dense forests and inhabit open forests, grasslands and light wooded countryside. They can be easily seen in cultivation. They usually feed on the leaves and fruit and also on beries and some flowers by browsing as well as grazing. In Gujarat it is considered pious because of the word "GAI" in its name and hence is not killed by people. Thus it doesn't have any natural predator and hence its population is increasing day by day.