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♤ Dolphins are animals of aquatic ecosystems. They are found in the sea, brackish water and fresh water. A total of 15 species of marine and harbour dolphins have been reported from Indian waters and coasts. Besides, the Irrawady Dolphins are found in brackish waters of Odisha. Amongst the fresh water dolphins, the Gangetic Dolphin is found in the Ganges river and its tributaries. Apart from this, Indus River Dolphins have also been reported in Indus River in Punjab.
♤ All fresh water, brackish water and marine Dolphins (Cetaceans) are listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection against hunting.
♤ Gangetic Dolphin is one of the 17 species identified for taking up ‘Recovery programme of Critically Endangered Species, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat’
♤ National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has initiated dolphin conservation programme in 2016 to ensure long term survival of dolphin and other river fauna.
Ganges Dolphin
♤ The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal.
♤ The River Dolphin inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
♤ It is estimated that their total population is around 2,000 and they are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
♤ The Ganges Dolphin is among the four “obligate” freshwater dolphins found in the world - the other three are the ‘baiji’ found in the Yangtze River (China), the ‘bhu-lan’ of the Indus (Pakistan) and the ‘boto’ of the Amazon River (Latin America).
♤ Although there are several species of marine dolphins whose ranges include some freshwater habitats, these four species live only in rivers and lakes.
♤ The Chinese River Dolphin was declared functionally extinct by a team of international scientists in 2006.
♤ In India, the Ganges River Dolphin is threatened by river water pollution and siltation, accidental entanglement in fishing nets and poaching for their oil.
♤ In addition, alterations to the rivers in the form of barrages and dams are separating populations. Various organizations, including the WWF-India in Uttar Pradesh have initiated programs for conservation and re- introduction of the River Dolphin.
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Nothing specified in wildlife protection act 1972, shall affect the hunting rights conferred on the Scheduled Tribes of the Nicobar Islands in the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.