The Ministry of Jal Shakti has recently released guidelines outlining the safe rescue and release of stranded Ganges River Dolphins. These guidelines were crafted in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department (EFCCD) of the Uttar Pradesh Government. The Ganges River Dolphin holds great significance as it was declared the National Aquatic Animal by the Government of India in 2009.
Key Attributes of the Ganges River Dolphin
The Ganges River Dolphin, known scientifically as Platanista gangetica gangetica, was officially discovered in 1801. Their habitat spans the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Uniquely, these dolphins live exclusively in freshwater and are effectively blind, relying on ultrasonic sounds to hunt. These emitted sounds bounce off their prey, forming an “image” in their minds. Commonly, they are referred to as ‘susu’.
Population and Significance
The global population of the Ganges River Dolphin is currently estimated at around 4,000, with nearly 80% found in the Indian subcontinent. The species serves as a crucial indicator of the entire river ecosystem’s health due to its reliance on freshwater habitats.
Risks Faced by the Dolphins
The Ganges River Dolphin faces various threats due to human activities. For one, they often get caught in fishing nets in areas abundant with fish, resulting in accidental deaths. This phenomenon, known as bycatch, stems from competing for resources between humans and dolphins.
Furthermore, contamination from industrial, agricultural, and human pollution results in severe habitat degradation. The construction of dams and other irrigation-related projects also threatens the dolphins. These structures hinder their movement, leading to problems like increased inbreeding and vulnerability to threats. Moreover, dams disrupt the migration and breeding cycles of the dolphins’ prey, leading to scarcity of food.
Conservation Status and Measures
The Ganges River Dolphin is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and recognized under Appendix I by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) also lists it under Appendix II.
In India, the dolphin has been listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. To address the declining population of these dolphins, various steps have been initiated by the government. The Prime Minister announced the launch of Project Dolphin during his Independence Day Speech in 2020. This initiative is parallel to Project Tiger, another successful conservation project that managed to increase the tiger population significantly.
Moreover, the Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary has been established in Bihar. National Ganga River Dolphin Day is celebrated every year on October 5th. Finally, the “Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020” was implemented to address issues such as river traffic, irrigation canals, and prey-base depletion impacting the Dolphins’ populations.
