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Gangetic Dolphins : Environment for UPSC Exams
Gangetic Dolphins : Environment for UPSC Exams
- Dolphins are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks.
- The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801. Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
- But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges.
- IUCN Status: Endangered.
- Habitat: Freshwaters only, In Ganga and Brahmaputra River system. The Ganges River dolphin, or susu, inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
- They are essentially blind. They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind.
- The Ganges river dolphin is important because it is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
- The government of India declared it the National Aquatic Animal in 2009.
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Threats:
- Dolphins dying as a result of accidentally being caught in fishing nets, also known as bycatch.
- The Ganges river dolphin is still hunted for meat and oil, which are both used medicinally. The oil is also used to attract catfish in net fishery.
- Industrial, agricultural, and human pollution is another serious cause of habitat degradation.
- High levels of pollution can directly kill prey species and dolphins, and completely destroy their habitat.
- The Centre has launched the first ever across-the-river survey in the Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered Gangetic doplhin.