PROJECT DOLPHIN
PROJECT DOLPHIN
Why in News
Recently, the MInistry of Jal Shakti expressed his displeasure over the slow pace of the approval process for Project Dolphin.
About
- The initiative got in-principle approval in 2019 at the first meeting of the National Ganga Council (NGC), headed by the Prime Minister.
- Project Dolphin is one of the activities planned under Arth Ganga, an ambitious inter-ministerial initiative of the government approved in 2019.
- It is expected to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- A Special Conservation program needs to be taken up for Gangetic Dolphin which is a national aquatic animal and also indicator species for the river Ganga spread over several states.
- As the Gangetic dolphin is at the top of the food chain, protecting the species and its habitat will ensure conservation of aquatic lives of the river.
Gangetic Dolphins
Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica gangetica.
Discovery: It was officially discovered in 1801.
Habitat: They live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
- The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
- They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds.
- It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
Conservation Status
Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule I.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix II
Threats
- Heavy Pollution
- Construction of dams
- Irrigation projects
- High Fishing Activities
- Bycatch
- Poaching
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