a day ago
Dolphins face survival threat
Patna: Graceful, elusive and nearly blind, the Ganges river dolphin, locally known as "susu", once glided through the murky waters of the Ganga and Brahmaputra with a quiet majesty.
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Today, the ripples they leave behind are few and fading. Despite its revered status as India's national aquatic animal, this freshwater sentinel is fighting a losing battle against rising pollution, river traffic and creeping urbanisation.
Once abundant in the subcontinent's river systems, the Ganges dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is now confined to select stretches of rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The recently concluded first-ever comprehensive river dolphin population survey in India (2021-2023) has revealed an alarming reality – only 6,327 river dolphins remain nationwide. Among them, Uttar Pradesh hosts the highest number at 2,397, followed closely by Bihar with 2,220.
This endangered species belongs to an elite and shrinking club of four obligate freshwater dolphins worldwide. The others include the "bhulan" in Pakistan's Indus, the "baiji" of China's Yangtze (declared functionally extinct in 2006) and the "boto" of the Amazon river.
In conservation terms, the "susu" is under maximum protection, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Appendix I of CITES, and categorised as Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Yet, no law seems sturdy enough to shield it from the escalating dolphin-human conflict.
"The Gangetic dolphin is an extremely useful animal for monitoring river quality. These animals act as indicators of a healthy river ecosystem.
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Being at the top of the food chain, their thriving presence signals rich biodiversity," said dolphin expert R K Sinha, widely known as the Dolphin Man of India.
According to him, the threats are manifold – poaching, accidental killings, demand for dolphin oil and flesh, dam constructions and relentless pollution have all taken a brutal toll on their fragile numbers.
These dolphins, which navigate the Ganga using echolocation, are blind in the conventional sense but are highly adapted to their muddy environment.
They help maintain ecological balance by regulating fish populations. "Without them, the very rhythm of the Ganga's aquatic life is disrupted," warn scientists.
In a bid to turn the tide, the govt established the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) on the banks of the Ganga near Patna's Law College Ghat. Inaugurated a couple of years ago, this one-of-its-kind facility in Asia was envisioned to become a hub of dolphin science and freshwater ecology.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 32 lakh, the NDRC will study dolphin behaviour and habitat and do research on aquatic life like benthic macro-invertebrates, otters, gharials and even migratory birds.
"The centre will also take up river hydrology as a key research component," said Dr G B Chand, zoology professor at Patna University and member of the NDRC experts' committee.
But for all its noble intentions, the centre's journey has been anything but smooth.
"The idea was first proposed in 2011. It hung in limbo for nearly a decade before finally being approved. Even after the CM inaugurated it, progress has been agonisingly slow," said Gopal Sharma, senior scientist with the Zoological Survey of India and interim director of the NDRC.
"We have faced delays at every step – funds, infrastructure staffing. It has been rough weather since day one," he added.
Still, forest officials remain optimistic.
Prabhat Kumar Gupta, principal chief conservator of forests, said the govt was committed to seeing the centre flourish.
"The state's environment, forest and climate change department is closely monitoring the NDRC's progress. We are currently assessing the equipment and manpower required. The centre is expected to be fully functional within this financial year," he said.
Gupta also highlighted the department's goal to make the NDRC a centre of excellence, not just for research but also for training fishermen on dolphin-friendly practices.
