The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is constructing an International Dugong Conservation Centre (IDCC) at Manora, Thanjavur district, to protect the endangered Dugong species and its habitat in the Palk Bay. The center, funded by the TN-SHORE initiative, will serve as a hub for conservation research, knowledge sharing, and community awareness. It will feature a Dugong-shaped main building, a museum, a monitoring lab, a seagrass ecology lab, a tunnel aquarium, and interactive displays. The IDCC will also focus on sustainable livelihoods for the local community through eco-tourism and incorporate water recycling systems and solar power. The project, estimated to cost â¹41 crore, is expected to be completed in two years and will require CRZ clearance from the state government. The center aims to address threats to Dugongs, including boat collisions, entanglement in fishing nets, habitat degradation, and climate change, through conservation strategies such as establishing marine protected areas and raising awareness.