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
