There is good news for dolphin lovers. From 600 in 2005, the number of Gangetic river dolphins in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 671, according to the latest dolphin census report.
The first biggest single census of the Gangetic river dolphins was held by the state forest department, WWF-India and 18 other NGOs and supported by HSBC.
UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who released the report at a function, said that the efforts to create awareness about the need to conserve Gangetic river dolphins was ‘praiseworthy.’
“The ‘My Ganga-My Dolphin’ campaign will surely go a long way in helping in dolphin conservation. It is not the number which is important, but the census which has been done properly and scientifically, which is significant,” he said.
The chief minister said that he would like to inform that the state government, along with focusing on preserving the environment, is also consistently working towards conserving the wildlife.
Mr Sandeep Behera, associate director, river basins and biodiversity, WWF-India, said that the census has provided the first baseline data on the Gangetic river dolphins. The count done in the past was more or less fragmented. The stretches like the Upper Ganga have recorded good population and it shows that if similar efforts are taken up at other places, it will further push up the dolphin numbers.
Significantly, over the past few years, the distribution range of dolphins has shrunken drastically with their population being adversely affected by various developmental activities like construction of dams and barrages, resulting in lean river flows, indiscriminate fishing and heavy siltation of rivers due to deforestation, pollution of the river and habitat destruction.
Dolphins have a very slow growth rate. The male matures at the age of 10 years while females mature at 12 years. Their average age is 18 years. In all its lifetime, a female gives birth to 5 to 6 off springs. But environmental degradation is increasing the death rate of dolphins.
In India, the population of dolphin in 1982 was estimated to be around 5,000 but now it is below 2000 with an annual mortality estimated to be at 130-160 animals.
The mammal is listed in schedule (I) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and categorised as ‘endangered’ by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).