India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar join hands for conservation of dolphins

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 23

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India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar have joined hands to enhance conservation of river dolphins in the region paving way for regional cooperation.

They will jointly undertake awareness drive on protection of dolphins.

Director-General of Namami Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said these countries had planned to jointly observe the International Freshwater Dolphin Day on October 24, but have postponed it on account of the festivals.

A fresh date regarding it will be decided later.

Experts from the four countries had jointly addressed a webinar in August on the theme “Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the ecosystem health of rivers and its dolphin population: Present status and future strategy for conservation in India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Nepal”.

It was organised by Inland Fisheries Society of India, ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF) and Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society under the aegis of Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

Freshwater dolphins, which are unique species found mainly in rivers of Asia and South America, are vanishing rapidly.

Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers in India are the main habitat of dolphin in India and are referred to as Gangetic dolphin.

Gangetic Dolphin, the national aquatic animal of India has been declared “endangered” by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Dr JK Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), ICAR, said that with less disturbance and interference, dolphins can thrive on their own and that is what we have seen during the lockdown.

“These animals do not realise boundaries and have tried to find habitat wherever possible. Hence, regional cooperation is very important in conserving them,” Dr Jena said.

Mishra said the mission to rejuvenate Ganga, which is habitat of bulk of Gangetic dolphin, is also linked to conservation of the animal.

Namami Gange project, carried out by NMCG has given importance to biodiversity and ecological improvement, including dolphin conservation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced “Dolphin Project” on the lines of “Project Tiger” which has helped in improving population of the big cat in the country.