10% increase in Gangetic
dolphins
October 2012. WWF-India, in partnership with the State Forest Department of
Uttar conducted a 3 day survey and awareness program in and around Uttar
Pradesh to raise awareness about the Ganges River Dolphin. The survey, the
total number of Gangetic dolphins in UP rose from 600 in 2005 to 671. In an
earlier WWF-India report, the population of Gangetic dolphins in 1982 was
estimated to be around 4000-5000 in India, but it is now less than 2000 with an
annual mortality estimated to be at 130-160 animals.
The campaign involved the
following activities:
A survey of the number of
dolphins across approximately a 3000km stretch of the Ganges and its key
tributaries (Yamuna, Son, Ken, Betwa, Ghagra, and Geruwa)
Awareness programs for local
communities in and around the banks of the Ganga for the conservation of the
aquatic mammal
Capacity building of
stakeholders associated with the conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin
Ganges River Dolphin
The Ganges River Dolphin, one of the four freshwater dolphins of the world,
commonly known as the "Susu" or "Soons" is an endemic fauna
of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems. The Ganges river dolphin
prefers to stay in the deep waters in and around the confluence of two or more
rivers. 'Susu' shares its habitat with crocodiles, freshwater turtles and
wetland birds many of which are fish eaters and are potential competitors with
dolphins. Often known as the "Tiger of the Ganges" the river dolphin
is an indicator animal, which has the same position in a river ecosystem as a
tiger in a forest
The survey was carried out
under the aegis of the HSBC- supported Rivers for Life, Life for Rivers
program.
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