Department keeps tight vigil to ensure safety of Indus dolphin

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 7

Despite dire water disruption in the Beas due to the ongoing repair of canal gates at the Harike wetland, officials are on their toes to know the well-being of the Indus dolphin.

A substantial number of other aquatic species, including fish and turtle, are feared dead at the dried out pond areas of the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a confluence of the Sutlej and the Beas.

Officials from the Punjab Wildlife and Forest Department in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have been keeping a round-the-clock watch on a rotational basis to ascertain the safety of the endangered cetacean.

Their finding is that the Indus dolphin has braved the adverse conditions and by and large safe.

Baljeet Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, Ferozepur, who is a part of the team, confirmed that at least six dolphins had been spotted recently at Dhundha near Goindwal Sahib, Karmuwala and Gaghrewal near the Beas point.

“The situation appears to be safe for dolphins as we managed to find at least six in the Beas upstream. We are monitoring the situation,” he said.

Indus dolphin is one of the world’s rarest mammals. Only about 1,100 such species exist today in the lower reaches of the Indus in Pakistan.

Their number had drastically declined since the construction of dams on the river.

The tiny population of dolphin was found in the 75-km stretch of the Beas, which also includes around 3-km stretch of the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary.

Though the Beas level has been maintained between 20 and 30 ft water streams, it will be a little difficult for the dolphins. However, the situation at the pond areas of Harike is still critical.

“The water level which was just 1,100 cusecs on the initial days since March 27 is now reported to be 4,660 cusecs,” Vikramjit Singh, Junior Engineer, Irrigation Department, said.

Normally, 30,000 cusecs of water flows here. As per government notification, the water flow could not be made normal till April 16 to carry out repair work at Ferozepur and Rajasthan feeders.

Sources said the total number of the endangered mammal was said to be not more than 15 between the Beas and Harike converging point. A team member said dolphins were spotted on different occasions at different points.

24-hour vigil

• Officials of the Punjab Wildlife and Forest Department in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have been keeping a round-the-clock watch on a rotational basis to ascertain the safety of the endangered cetacean.
• Their finding is that the Indus dolphin has braved the adverse conditions and by and large safe.