Dugong that never was

THE carcass of a marine mammal found on the coast near Porbandar town two-and-a-half weeks ago that was thought be that of a dugong,was found to be that of a finless porpoise,according to a forest official.

The find was of interest to naturalists because no dugong — a large,herbivorous marine mammal locally called the daria ka gai or sea-cow and listed as “vulnerable to extinction” — has ever been sighted,outside the Gulf of Kutch or it’s immediate vicinity.

Bharat Pathak,Ditector of GEER Foundation was sent pictures of the carcassfor identification. The researchers at the foundation concluded that the carcass must have been that of a finless porpoise,which is much smaller and is found in South Asian waters.