Welcome to the Marine Mammal Conservation Network of India : Conserving Whales, Dolphins, Porpoise, Dugong in India
Welcome to www.marinemammals.in, a site devoted to the marine mammals of the Indian seas. Marine mammals form a fascinating group of animals including whales, dolphins, seals and the dugong, also known as the sea cow. Being mammals, they are more closely related to elephants, leopards, bats and hares than they are to sharks and other fish. There are some 120 species of marine mammal to be found in the world, and a fourth of these may be found in India and adjacent countries.
 One species belonging to the order Sirenia, namely the dugong, and 30 species of cetaceans, including dolphins, whales and porpoises, are found in the waters of the Indian subcontinent. In size they range from the relatively small Finless Porpoise to the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth, the Blue Whale. You can find information about each of these species in the Species Accounts.
The Indian Database lists records of marine mammals from the region dating from the 19th century onwards and is being updated regularly. How many instances are there of Bottlenose Dolphins being found at Tuticorin? Where has the Killer Whale been seen in India? The answers to these and other questions can be found from the database.
 But there is much to be found out yet about the marine mammals of India. Practically nothing is known about the movements of these animals from one area to another. Nothing is known about their numbers. Marine mammals around the world have been affected seriously by human activities such as fishing. It is possible that in the Indian region too they are facing threats to their existence. We can help save them only when we have more information.
What can you do to help marine mammals? You can help strengthen the available information. Have you ever come across a dolphin, dead or alive? Have you come to know about a whale along the coast? You may have just seen an item in a local newspaper, but your knowledge is potentially valuable. You can report sighting/strandings to the online database. You can even send in photographs.
Whales, and dolphins, are sometimes found stranded alive on beaches. A marine mammal that is stranded thus is probably in danger of dying. You could save its life if you know how to deal with strandings.
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