GANGETIC
DOLPHINS - ENVIRONMENT
News:
19 dolphins rescued alive
from canals of Ganga-Ghagra basin, says study
What's
in the news?
●
A recent publication by scientists and
researchers has revealed that 19 Gangetic River dolphins had been rescued from
the irrigation canals of the Ganga-Ghagra basin in Uttar Pradesh between 2013
and 2020.
Key
takeaways:
●
The paper noted that the development of
dams and barrages has severely affected this habitat as dolphins move into
irrigation canals.
Ganga
river Dolphin:
●
Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica.
●
Discovery: It was officially discovered in
1801.
Habitat:
●
They live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu River systems of Nepal,
India, and Bangladesh.
●
The Ganges River dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially
blind.
●
They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey,
enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. They are also called ‘susu’.
Population:
●
The global population of the species is
estimated at 4,000, and nearly 80% found
in the Indian subcontinent.
Characteristics:
●
The female
Gangetic Dolphins are larger than males. They are generally blind and catch
their prey in a unique manner. They emit an ultrasonic sound that reaches the
prey.
●
They are popularly known as ‘SUSU’
which refers to the noise the dolphin is said to make when it breathes.
●
The Government of India has recognised
them as National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city
of Guwahati.
●
It is also among the four freshwater dolphins in the world - the other three are:
○
Baiji (likely extinct) found in Yangtze
River in China.
○
Bhulan in the Indus River of Pakistan.
○
Boto in the Amazon River in Latin America.
Significance:
●
It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
Threats:
●
Direct killing
●
Habitat fragmentation by dams and barrages
●
Indiscriminate fishing
●
Pollution
●
Absence of a coordinated conservation plan
●
Lack of awareness
●
Continuing anthropogenic pressure.
Conservation
status:
●
Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule I.
●
International Union for the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
●
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I
(most endangered).
●
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix II.
Steps
to taken to conserve the dolphin:
1.
Project Dolphin: The Prime Minister announced the
government’s plan to launch a Project Dolphin in his Independence Day Speech
2020. It is on the lines of Project Tiger, which has helped increase the tiger
population.
2.
Dolphin Sanctuary: Vikramshila
Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary has been established in Bihar.
3.
National Ganga River Dolphin Day: The National Mission for
Clean Ganga celebrates 5th October
as National Ganga River Dolphin Day.
4.
Conservation Plan: The Conservation Action Plan for the
Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020,
which “identified threats to Gangetic Dolphins and impact of river traffic,
irrigation canals and depletion of prey-base on Dolphins populations”.