Part of: Prelims and GS III – Conservation; Biodiversity
Context The census of one of the world’s most threatened cetaceans, the Indus river dolphin ( Platanista gangetica minor ) — is all set to commence as part of the Centre’s pan-India project.
Punjab’s wildlife preservation wing shall also protect the dolphins and their natural habitat.
The project is to be implemented over five years.
Key takeaways
Engage the community: Alongside research, importance will be on engaging the riparian (relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams) communities by encouraging community-led biological monitoring.
Model villages: Villages around the hot spot sites of dolphin occurrence will be developed as models for community-led conservation.
‘Beas-Dolphin Mitras: Extension programmes will be held to develop a group of dedicated individuals, called ‘Beas-Dolphin Mitras’ of the river Beas.
Dolphin eco tourism: The project also will embark on dolphin eco tourism.
Adopting participatory process: Participatory process shall be adopted to address various water conservation-related issues, including protection of freshwater habitats and species
About Indus dolphin
It is a freshwater dolphin
IUCN status: Endangered
Until recently, it was believed that these dolphins were endemic to Pakistan.
But in 2007, a remnant but viable population of Indus dolphins was discovered in Punjab’s Harike wildlife sanctuary and in the lower Beas river.
Since its discovery, research is being done by Punjab’s Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation in partnership with WWF-India providing an understanding of current distribution, habitat use and population abundance.
Indus river dolphin was declared the State aquatic animal of Punjab in 2019.
