Colombo, April 7 -- A man was arrested by wildlife officers from the Vavuniya Wildlife Zone and the Mannar site for possessing one kilogram of sea cow (Dugong dugon) flesh.

The arrest followed information received by the wildlife officers. The sea cow flesh was found at the suspect's residence.

The suspect was produced before the Mannar Magistrate and later released on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000. The case is scheduled to be heard on May 8.

The dugong (Dugong dugon), commonly known as the sea cow, a marine mammal belonging to the Sirenia family, inhabits the seagrass meadows along the northern and northwestern coasts of Sri Lanka, particularly near the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar.

Sea cows play a vital role in maintaining and no...