India's Gangetic Dolphin Count Rises To 41

In a major boost to the efforts to save the Gangetic dolphin, the latest studies have shown that their numbers are increasing.

The recently concluded census of Gangetic dolphins has shown an increase in their numbers, showing healthy population growth.

Gangetic Dolphin Conservation/ File

The census has found that there are a total of 41 dolphins in the Ganges from Bijnor Barrage to Bulandshahr Narora Barrage.

In 2019, this number was 35. The latest data showed that there has been an increase of four calves and two adults, from the previous year.

24 members carried out census

The census was carried out for a week across the Uttar Pradesh by a team of 24 members from seven forest divisions, WWF-India, Wildlife Institute of India, Ganga Mitras and Ganga Praharis covered a 188 km river stretch, from Bijnor to Narora Barrage. Along this stretch, the team found encouraging populations of river dolphins, engaged with 18 riparian villages and 600 local community members directly and 6500 indirectly.

Gangetic Dolphin Conservation/ Facebook

The Dolphin Survey, which started from Bijnor Barrage on October 5, ended on Saturday by reaching Narora Barrage.

'Encouraging sign'

While discussing the outcomes of this year¡¯s campaign, Sunil Pandey, PCCF (Wildlife) and CWLW said, ¡°The presence of 41 dolphins is an encouraging sign, and now that we have a baseline, conservation efforts need to be stepped-up to eliminate all the threats in collaboration of the local communities.¡± ¡®My Ganga, My Dolphin Campaign¡¯ reported the presence of 22 dolphins in the year 2015 and 35 during 2019 in the same stretch.

BCCL/ File

The Uttar Pradesh Government has also announced constitution of a Dolphin Task Force for the Ganga River Dolphin to enhance protection of India¡¯s National Aquatic Animal and the creation of a network of Dolphin Mitras to strengthen engagement with local communities and other stakeholders.

¡®My Ganga, My Dolphin¡¯ Campaign¡¯

¡®My Ganga, My Dolphin¡¯ Campaign¡¯, was conceptualised in 2012 by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and WWF-India to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the Government of India's decision to declare the Ganga River Dolphin as a 'National Aquatic Animal'.

The key objectives of the campaign included engagement with local stakeholders, raising awareness as well as building capacity on the actions needed to conserve river dolphins and generating baseline information on dolphin populations using a unified methodology. Over the years, this campaign has taken the shape of a collaborative exercise to celebrate river dolphins.

Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission flagged off my Ganga, My Dolphin campaign 2020 for Clean Ganga and Sanjay Kumar, Commissioner Saharanpur on October 5, 2020 at the Bijnor barrage.

Wikimedia

¡°My Ganga, My Dolphin¡¯ Campaign, has been successful in connecting with local communities and generating awareness on species conservation. The way UP has led this campaign in terms of methodology, consistency and leadership, can be a model for the rest of the country¡±, said Ravi Singh, SG & CEO WWF ¨C India.

In his independence day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced 'Project Gangetic Dolphin' this Independence Day for the conservation of Gangetic dolphins.

Last week, on the occasion of Gangetic Dolphin Day, a first-of-its-kind dolphin safaris were started at six places in the country, including near Haiderpur Wetland in Ganga in Bijnor.