&w=3840&q=100)
Study flags chemical contamination risk to endangered Gangetic dolphins
Published in the journal 'Heliyon', the study by the Wildlife Institute of India found that these freshwater mammals are being exposed to a hazardous cocktail of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through their diet.
The researchers analysed the dietary exposure risks of 39 EDCs in fish species consumed by Gangetic dolphins.
The findings indicate significant bioaccumulation of industrial pollutants such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) in the prey base of the dolphins.
Residues of banned pesticides like DDT and Lindane (HCH) were also detected, pointing to poor enforcement of environmental regulations in the Ganga basin.
The Gangetic dolphin population has declined by over 50 per cent since 1957, and their range has shrunk by nearly a quarter, despite being designated as India's national aquatic animal.
With only five species of river dolphins left globally, all of them threatened, the study warned that India could risk a repeat of the Yangtze River tragedy, where a similar species went extinct due to unchecked human activities.
The study attributes the contamination to several sources: runoff from agriculture, untreated industrial effluents from the textile sector, vehicular emissions, poor solid waste management, and rising tourism in ecologically sensitive areas.
The effects of EDCs are particularly worrisome as they can disrupt hormonal systems and reproductive functions in mammals, and persist in the ecosystem for long periods.
Although toxicity risk quotients based on standard values were found to be low, when analysed against the reference dose --? a more realistic measure of exposure risk --? the dolphins were at a high risk from seven key pollutants -- DEHP, DnBP, DDT, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
The study recommended the urgent inclusion of these chemicals in dolphin conservation-monitoring programmes and calls for a scientifically informed national framework to assess and regulate chemical contamination in river ecosystems.
The Gangetic dolphin is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, but the study stresses that protection on paper must translate into actionable policy and pollution control if the species is to survive.
The research from last year was among several key documents unveiled on a new portal launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to promote access to ecological data and conservation insights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Here's a handy guide to keep feet of captive elephants healthy
COIMBATORE: The health of captive elephants is expected to improve with the launch of new guidelines focused on foot health on Tuesday. The guide 'Healthy Feet, Healthy Elephants' has been prepared by the Project Elephant and the Elephant Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India. It has included recommendations from an expert committee on maintaining captive elephants in a hygienic atmosphere. Foot problems are among the leading causes of morbidity in captive elephants. Their feet are particularly vulnerable to a range of ailments that can significantly impact their health, comfort, and longevity. Limited movement, altered foraging behaviour and exposure to artificial substrates are prime factors. Abscesses, cracks, foot rot, arthritis, and even fatal infections are often found in captive elephants. The guide will provide a deep understanding of the biological and anatomical basis of the elephant feet, diet, and impact of substrate on foot health. It offers practical, hands-on instructions for foot inspection, trimming, treatment and prevention. The document also helps the budding veterinarians to do quick reference and is a training resource that encourages regular, preventive foot care. "One of the most important aspects of an elephant is its foot. For an elephant, the foot is as important as the heart, and the new guidelines will be useful for the veterinarians, temple authorities, and private owners to take care of the animals," said Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, who released the guide during the World Elephant Day 2025 celebration in Coimbatore on Tuesday. Dr N Kalaivanan, Forest Veterinary Officer at the Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve and one of the contributors to the guide, said "In humans, cattle, and most other wild animals, the digits (fingers and toes) are separated. If one gets infected, it can affect the entire leg. But in elephants, the digits are structured together to support their massive weight. Elephants actually stand on their toes, and an average adult weighs between 4,000 and 4,500 kilograms. They also use their feet to communicate by stomping the ground, sending seismic signals that other elephants can detect up to a kilometer away. Remarkably, they can even sense seismic waves from earthquakes occurring as far as 100 km away.
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Time of India
Smaller cats give big cousins a run for their money in Bengal's tiger turf
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: A recent study by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on lesser cats in tiger landscapes has found that of the nine lesser cat species in India, six are found in Bengal. Assam is the only other state with the presence of six lesser cats. During the All-India Tiger Estimation exercises, 26, 838 cameras were deployed in 2018-2019, followed by 32, 588 in 2022-2023, across the tiger-range forests in India. Camera trap pairs were placed in 2 square kilometre grids, designed to capture tiger, leopard along with other carnivores. In Bengal, of the 200 grids surveyed, lesser cats — jungle cat, leopard cat, fishing cat, clouded leopard, marbled cat and Aisatic golden cat — were found occupying 166 grids. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata If taken into account an independent study on pangolins by city-based NGO HEAL in Purulia's Kotshila range, Bengal is also home to rusty spotted cat — world's smallest and lightest cat — that made its debut in the state's wild this Jan. The study also highlighted Sundarbans as a stronghold for leopard cats. However, it also sounded alarm over the relatively low occupancy of jungle cats in the mangroves — the species which was found widely distributed in India. Fishing cat presence remained moderate to high in the Sundarbans. While leopard cat occupancy remained largely consistent across landscapes compared to 2018-19, Sundarbans represented a key stronghold for the species with consistently high occupancy, the study revealed. However, even though the jungle cat is widely distributed across a variety of habitats from semi-arid regions to dense rainforests, its occupancy shows marked variation across landscapes. "The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem showed predominantly low occupancy, with only isolated pockets of moderate to high occupancy along its northern fringes," it said. "Based on the single-season occupancy model, moderate to high occupancy was recorded for fishing cats in the Sundarbans, followed by Kaziranga and Orang tiger reserves in NE. In NE India and the Sundarbans, fishing cat occupancy remained largely unchanged, although a few peripheral grids outside protected areas exhibited declines," the study highlighted. For marbled cats, the study decoded high occupancy in north Bengal's Neora Valley National Park and low occupancy in Buxa, Gorumara and Jaldapara national parks in the same region. However, Buxa has recorded high occupancy of another lesser cat — clouded leopard. Whilemoderate occupancy was recorded in Neora Valley and Gorumara, its presence was found to be low in Jaldapara and Mahananda. The occupancy of Asiatic golden cat, the largest among the Asian small cats, was found to be moderate in the forests of Neora Valley and Buxa, the study said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Time of India
GPS tagging of raptors begins in Thar for conservation study
1 2 Jaisalmer: Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have begun GPS tagging of raptors in the Thar Desert to study their movement, ecology, and conservation needs. The project, launched in collaboration with the Rajasthan forest department and funded by the Raptor Research and Conservation Foundation, focuses on tracking breeding raptors in Desert National Park (DNP) and nearby areas of Jaisalmer. Under the ongoing Raptor Ecology Study, a second Tawny Eagle was tagged Friday, becoming the third bird tagged this year. Earlier, one Tawny Eagle and an Egyptian Vulture were tagged. The study, running from April 2025 to July 2027, aims to tag 36 vultures of different species using GPS transmitters fitted with backpack harnesses. The tagging is led by WII director Dr Govind Sagar Bhardwaj and senior scientist Dr Sutirtha Dutta. WII scientist Varun Kher said this is the first GPS transmitter-based telemetry study on raptors in the Thar. The project targets six major species—Red-headed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Vulture, Tawny Eagle, and Laggar Falcon—to understand movement patterns, breeding behaviour, and threats. DNP is a critical habitat, hosting eight of the nine vulture species found in India. Real-time GPS data will aid in monitoring seasonal travel, feeding habits, and daily movement. Alongside tagging, researchers are monitoring nests and assessing threats to inform conservation strategies. DFO Brij Mohan Gupta said, "Three raptors including two Tawny Eagles and an Egyptian Vulture—have been tagged so far. Similar telemetry projects in Uttarakhand are also underway, and combined data will support nationwide raptor conservation planning. " Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
