Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary: A last bastion for endangered dolphins in Bihar
Patna: In the ancient heartland of Bihar, where the Ganga meanders past whispering sandbars and age-old settlements, a 60km stretch of river pulses with rare life. This is the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), India's only protected habitat for the endangered Ganges river dolphin and a last bastion for the "blind swimmers" of the subcontinent.
Named after the historic Vikramshila University, this sanctuary, declared in 1991, stretches from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon, encompassing a rich mosaic of riverine biodiversity. Apart from being a safe haven for the iconic susu, it is also a thrumming aquatic theatre, hosting everything from elusive otters to critically endangered gharials, from soft-shelled turtles to over 135 species of waterfowl. The sanctuary is, in every sense, a living, breathing example of what India's rivers once were and could still be.
"More than 250 dolphins and their calves can be sighted at Jhanwi Ghat, west of Bhagalpur. That is a clear indication that the water here is relatively clean and fit for the survival of dolphins," said Arvind Mishra, member of the governing council of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and a representative of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
"The efforts of both the authorities and environmentally conscious citizens have played a major role in creating conditions suitable for wildlife to flourish here," he added.
What sets VGDS apart is its shifting, dynamic nature. During the monsoon, the Ganga's meandering channels and inundated floodplains reshape the land and water, constantly redrawing the map of this sanctuary. A particularly rich 36km stretch from Sultanpur to Bhagalpur turns into a breeding paradise for birds with sandbars emerging as seasonal nurseries for nesting species.
"The sanctuary is also recognised as an 'important bird area' by the BNHS.
It supports a host of endangered and migratory species like the Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), Pallas's fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) and Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni). Greater and Lesser adjutants too have been reported here," said Mishra. "The ecosystem also supports a sizable population of gharials, various freshwater turtles and numerous fish species," he added.
But beneath this shimmering surface lies a current of concern.
"Pollution from fertilisers and pesticides in agricultural runoff, along with industrial and domestic effluents, continue to threaten the sanctuary's delicate balance," said Sunil Chaudhary, a Bhagalpur-based expert on Ganges dolphins.
"Construction of hydroelectric dams, bridges and irrigation reservoirs disrupt aquatic movement, while accidental killings in gill nets and poaching remain persistent threats," he added.
Despite these looming challenges, there is an undercurrent of optimism. Conservationists believe the tide may be turning. Govt initiatives, community engagement and scientific studies have started to yield visible results.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
U.S. officials survey Air India crash site, families continue to wait for bodies
AHMEDABAD, India, - Officials from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board surveyed the site of Air India plane crash that killed at least 271 people, sources said on Sunday, with families continuing to wait for DNA profiling results to identify charred bodies. Along with the NTSB, officials from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration were in Ahmedabad in western India's Gujarat state surveying the crash site, said one source with direct knowledge. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for Gatwick Airport south of London began losing height seconds after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, and erupted in a huge fireball as it hit buildings below. All but one on board were declared dead in the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. Around 30 people died on the ground. Air India and the Indian government were looking at several aspects of the crash including issues linked to its engine thrust, flaps, and why the landing gear remained open as the plane took off and then came down. The secretary of the U.S. Department of Transport, Sean Duffy, said on Friday he was in the process of deploying a team from the FAA and the NTSB to India. Boeing and GE, whose engines were used in the plane, were also sending teams. "We'll take action should any recommendations come forward from the NTSB's investigation," Duffy said. The FAA and NSTB did not immediately respond to Reuters queries outside regular business hours. The FAA has said India will lead the investigation, but the NTSB is the official U.S. representative for providing assistance, while the FAA provides technical support. Boeing officials will also look at various parameters in their inspections, including the angle of landing, as they investigate the matter, said the first source. In all, around 10 officials were present at the site on Sunday, including from the NTSB, said the second source. India's aviation regulator has ordered all Boeing 787s being operated by local carriers to be inspected. The crash brings a fresh challenge for both Air India which has for years being trying to revamp its fleet, and Boeing, which is trying to rebuild public trust following a series of safety and production crises. In Ahmedabad, doctors were struggling to identify bodies that were charred in the incident, resorting to dental samples and DNA profiling. DNA samples of 32 victims from the crash have been successfully matched, Rajnish Patel, additional superintendent at the city's main hospital, said on Sunday. "The bodies for which DNA samples have been matched are being handed over to the families with due respect," he said.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
AI-171 crash: Single-window system for issuing death certificates, says Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 15 (ANI): Gujarat State administration had arranged for the death certificates of those who died in the recent Air India plane crash to be issued directly at the hospital, sparing grieving families the need to visit multiple offices, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani said on Sunday. Further, Pani said, that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which is probing the crash of the AI-171 flight bound for London that crashed in a residential area in Meghaninagar including the BJ Medical college complex, on June 12 shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad international airport, has successfully retrieved the aircraft's black box. '....the black box had to be recovered. The black box is either in the front or in the back. Fortunately, in this case, the tail end (of the plane) was not destroyed, and it was stuck in the first building. The AAIB team requested that cranes, labourers, and engineers be provided to recover the black box. After this, the Black box was recovered...' the Ahmedabad Municipal commissioner said. 'After that, we ensured that people should not go to offices for death certificates. A single-window system was created, and the death certificates were issued then and there,' he said. On Thursday, the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff. There were 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. '101 fire vehicles were there, more than 100 ambulances, including 35 ambulances from private trusts. Around 46 different earthmover equipment, including JCB, excavators, and Cranes, were there. The entire operation was carried out in a swift, coordinated and quick manner. We found that the wing of the aircraft was obstructing the movement of ambulances in the internal took a decision to remove this obstruction. For a green corridor for the ambulances, this wing had to be removed... The operation had to be continued in the evening, so the light arrangement had to be done. There were more than 100 LEDs, flood lights, with 5 DG sets, so that there should not be any problem as far as lighting arrangement is concerned...' the Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner said. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday confirmed the recovery of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), commonly referred to as the black box, from the rooftop of a building at the site of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad. The AACB has launched a full-scale investigation into the crash, with over 40 staff from the Gujarat State Government joining efforts to support the Ministry of Civil Aviation teams on the ground. The black box, a critical piece of evidence, will be analysed to determine the cause of the tragic crash that claimed the lives of 241 people onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The investigation is underway, and the recovered DFDR is expected to provide vital insights into the events leading up to the disaster. Meanwhile, Air India said on Saturday that it will provide an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased and to the survivor of the plane crash in Ahmedabad to help address immediate financial needs in addition to the Rs one crore support already announced by Tata Sons. Air India said it stands in solidarity with the families of the passengers who tragically lost their lives in the recent accident. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath condoles loss of lives due to lightning in Prayagraj
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 15 (ANI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences on the loss of life due to lightning in Prayagraj district on Sunday. The Chief Minister conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He directed officials to immediately provide the permissible relief amount to the families of the deceased. Additionally, the Chief Minister has given instructions to immediately distribute the permissible relief amount to the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister has also given instructions to provide proper treatment to the people injured in this disaster. In a separate incident, CM Yogi took cognisance of the tragic accident that occurred inthe Saharanpur district during bathing in a canal and expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister had directed officials to promptly reach the accident site and expedite relief and rescue operations. He also instructed that the injured be immediately admitted to the hospital and provided with appropriate medical care. CM Yogi had further wished for the swift recovery of those injured. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday expressed condolences over the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and others in the plane crash in Ahmedabad. Posting on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said, 'The death of former Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani ji and other passengers and crew members in the plane crash in Ahmedabad is extremely sad and heartbreaking. Humble tribute to him!' He added, 'I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed souls and give strength to their bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow. Om peace.' On Thursday, the Air India flight AI171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport, ramming into a doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. (ANI)
