Source: DTE
Context: A comprehensive survey under Project Dolphin (2020) estimated 6,327 Gangetic dolphins across eight Indian states.
- The survey provides the first systematic population estimate of river dolphins in India, aiding conservation efforts.
About Dolphin Survey:
- Survey Conducted By:
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- Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) under Project Dolphin (2020).
- Conducted with support from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and various state forest departments.
- Survey Coverage:
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- Covered 28 rivers across eight states, spanning 8,507 km.
- Major river basins: Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus.
- Key Findings:
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- Total Dolphins: 6,327 (6,324 Gangetic dolphins + 3 Indus dolphins).
- State-wise estimates:
About Gangetic Dolphin:
- What is the Gangetic Dolphin?
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- A freshwater river dolphin, one of the few river dolphins in the world.
- Known as “Susu” due to the sound it makes while surfacing.
- Rivers found in:
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- Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu River systems of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
- Extinct in many parts of its original range.
- Key Features:
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- Blind dolphin: Has no lens in its eyes, relies on echolocation for movement and hunting.
- Feeds on fish and prefers counter-current systems of main river channels.
- Surfaces every 30-120 seconds to breathe, as it cannot survive underwater.
- IUCN Status & National Recognition:
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- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I species (highest protection).
- National Aquatic Animal of India – Declared in 2009.
