Most of us know about River Ganga or Ganges. It is one of the biggest river of India and considered to be the holiest of rivers. Most of us from India have visited and taken a dip in the holy waters of riverGanges. But do we know that Ganges is the home to fresh water Dolphin. Few of us know that Fresh Water Dolphins [ Platanista gangetica ] live in Ganges have been there for ages.
The Ganges River Dolphin or Susu as locally known are found in the Ganges, Bhramaputra , and some other rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They are also know as blind Dolphins as they do not have lens in their eyes. According to the Hindu mythology as we all know the River Ganges came down from the heaven and from that time the River Dolphins have been a part of the Ganges. The river Dolphin was revered and considered to be a very sacred fish even in the third century BC. during the time of Emperor Ashoka. It was one of the worlds first protected species, as it was protected under a special status given by Emperor Ashoka. Today the River Dolphin is an endangered species, there are many reasons to the reduction of its population. The construction of many barrages and dams is one of the reasons as it has divided and restricted the colony of dolphins. The main reason is pollution. We all know that river Ganges is polluted but do little about it. Fishing is another reason for the decrease in dolphin’s population. As the river dolphin is blind it cannot see the nets and get easily tangled into them. Their habitat is degrading and so are they.
The River dolphins have a chance in form of “Dr Sandeep Behera “The Dolphin Man”. Dr Sandeep Behera is the Freshwater Programme Coordinator for WWF – India. He is know among the local villagers as the Dolphin Man. Dr. Sandeep has worked tirelessly for the last 13 years to try an save the Ganges River Dolphins.
In particular his work has been focused on the 164 km. stretch of river between Bijnor and Narora. This area is about 200 km. from New Delhi. He has been able to persuade the local government to put an ban on commercial fishing and sand mining among the river banks. Due to his involvement and research we now know that as like canaries sent down mines to warn of toxic gases the dolphins in our rivers can also warn of polluted water. A major threat to the Ganges river dolphin has been the extensive damming of rivers for irrigation and electricity generation, which isolates populations and prevents seasonal migration. Other threats include chemical pollution, boat traffic, hunting and human disturbance. This species has also been hunted at times for oil, fish bait and food by local people.
Well, now we know that such a beautiful species is in danger we should help in whatever way we can to make things better and try to save them form getting extinct. It is sad to know that the river dolphin which we in India considered to be a heavenly being and had revered it is near extinction. It is already protected under the wild life act. But unless we the people of India will not co-operate and help there is a limit to which the Government or WWF can do. Stop commercial fishing, stop using soaps and other things while taking a dip at Ganges, stop using the river as a dustbin and if we want to do more the WWF and The Dolphin Man are there to guide us.
Links:
* Swimming blindly down the Ganges
*Ganges River dolphin
*Conserving the Ganges River Dolphin and improving livelihoods
* The Red List of Threatened Species
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Posted by Silverado on March 31, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Good Blog. I will continue reading it in the future. Nice layout too.
Posted by Jaideepsinh on April 2, 2008 at 2:02 am
Thanks.
Posted by Th Pawlen Singha on November 13, 2008 at 2:49 am
The Barak river,an integral part of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river sustem and the second largest river in north-east India as well as Assam state has been found to be left with only two congregation centres of residential dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica. Here, only about 10 dolphins are surviving now. They have been under constant monitoring for the last 10 years. As a result of persuations, campaigning etc., a few steps have been taken to save the life and habitat of this blind mammal:
• To exempt two Fishery Mahals in which lies the two dolphin spots of the Barak from leasing out for fishery purposes w.e.f. 2000-2001,
• To clamp 144 Cr.P.C. w.e.f. 07-02-2001 at one dolphin spot for restraining any form of fishing there,
• To start necessary arrangements for declaring the concerned river section as River Dolphin Sanctuary. A Feasibility Project Report, in this connection, has already been submitted on 28-02-2001 by the DFO, Cachar to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Assam.
It requires only Rs 7 10 000 ( Rs seven lakh ten thousand) & no new staff for starting the sanctuary, the report mentioned, present Forest Staff will take care of the Sanctuary area of about 15 km length of the river.
• To issue order for demarcation work for the proposed Dolphin Sanctuary (Half of the work was done after then it seemed to be shelved ).
• With scripts from the present communicator, Doordarshan Kendra, Silchar has produced Documentaries “Endangered Dolphins of the Barak River” in Bengali and in English and they have already been made telecast several times. This has increased the awareness level of people in the Barak Valley and surrounding areas.
• Extension Activities Cell of Cachar College, Silchar alone and in association with Department of Ecology and Environment Science, Assam University, Silchar have also campaigned for protecting dolphins and their habitat in the Barak .
Posted by vanessa killian on December 29, 2008 at 5:55 pm
dear river dolphin expert,
i am vanessa killian, a current student at glenbrook north highschool in northbrook, il. i am constructing a project for our biology class about river dolphins. i was wondering if you would be willing to answer some questions about the animal for us?
thank you for your time,
vanessa killian
Posted by Jaideepsinh on December 30, 2008 at 3:51 am
I can try to give answers to the best of my knowledge. And I am no expert. I am a concerned wildlife & nature lover who is expressing his feelings in whatever way is possible.
Posted by gramma on June 1, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Hi Vanessa – yes this is gramma in NV. we would love to have email communication with you! Hope this year in high school was a fabulous one!
hugs
Posted by Jaideepsinh on October 9, 2009 at 1:22 am
I am very happy to inform that “The Gangetic River Dolphin” has been
declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India by the Government.
This is news that gives great hope to us.
http://www.wwfindia.org/?3540/National-Aquatic-Animal