UPSC Articles
Ganges river dolphin
Part of: Prelims and GS III – Conservation
Context The Jal Shakti Ministry has released a guide for the safe rescue and release of stranded Ganges river dolphins.
Key takeaways
- The document has been prepared by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department (EFCCD) of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
- The guide has been drawn from years of experience of rescuing 25 Ganges river dolphins stranded in irrigation canals.
- Best practices on crowd control, dolphin capture from canals and handling, transfer, transport and release are part of the guide.
About Ganges Dolphins
- The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India
- It is Found throughout the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
- It (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is a global priority and is also an indicator of healthy aquatic systems
- Ghaghra river is a prime habitat where most of the rescued dolphins were released in the past few years.
- IUCN status: Endangered
- Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972): Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
