Latest news with #NationalDolphinResearchCentre
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Project Dolphin must be backed by real research'
1 2 3 National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) was set up in Patna to boost research on the Ganges dolphin. But it remains non-functional. In this exclusive interview with TOI's B K Mishra, Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Ravindra Kumar Sinha calls for urgent govt support. Excerpts: Were ancient Indians aware of the Ganges dolphin's significance? Did they take any steps for its protection? People in ancient India recognised the importance of the Ganges dolphin and took steps for its conservation. Ashoka the Great, ruler of the Magadh Empire, issued the world's first known wildlife conservation order, which included the Ganges dolphin, then called Ganga puputaka. This edict, recorded in the Fifth Pillar Edicts, prohibited the killing of listed animals. The Ganges dolphin is also referenced in the story of Ganga avataran. What does modern science say about these dolphins? Scientific research suggests the Ganges dolphin is the most ancient dolphin species in the world. It lost its eyesight due to the absence of a lens, and its retinas are vestigial. Anatomical features like the presence of a caecum at the junction of the small and large intestines – absent in other dolphins, whales or porpoises – further set it apart. The position of the testes also supports its status as the most ancient surviving dolphin. What is the status of "Project Dolphin"? Ten years after the Ganges dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal by the ministry of environment and forests, PM Narendra Modi launched "Project Dolphin" on Independence Day in 2020 for the conservation of both Ganges and marine dolphins. Notably, the proposal I submitted to the Planning Commission in 2012 included conservation of both riverine and marine dolphins as part of the NDRC's scientific work. The NDRC was set up at your initiative. What kind of research was it meant to conduct and why is it still not operational? The NDRC at Law College Ghat was funded by the then Planning Commission in 2013 following my proposal. Patna University provided land after a five-year delay, thanks to the CM's intervention. However, no regular director has been appointed and no budget has been allocated. This is the only such centre in India, and possibly in the world, that deserves a renowned river dolphin conservationist with global experience at its helm. The state govt must provide budgetary support to enable scientists to begin research, publish quality papers and attract international attention and funding. Without external funding, quality research and international publications are not possible. How can today's youth contribute to Ganges dolphin conservation? With proper lab equipment and fieldwork facilities at the NDRC, the younger generation will be drawn to scientific research and conservation efforts for the Ganges dolphin. Young people can also play a key role in raising awareness about the importance of dolphins and the urgent need for their protection. 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 .
