Project Dolphin

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress in obtaining approvals for Project Dolphin.

What is Project Dolphin?

• Overview: Project Dolphin was given in-principle approval in 2019 during the first meeting of the National Ganga Council (NGC), chaired by the Prime Minister. It is part of the broader Arth Ganga initiative, an inter-ministerial effort approved by the government in 2019.
• Implementation: This project is expected to be executed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, following a model similar to Project Tiger, which successfully increased the tiger population in India.
• Conservation Efforts: The Gangetic Dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, requires special conservation efforts as it is an indicator species for the health of the Ganga River ecosystem across multiple states. Being at the top of the aquatic food chain, the preservation of the Gangetic Dolphin and its habitat is crucial for maintaining the ecological balance and conserving other aquatic species in the river.
• Ongoing Initiatives: To date, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which oversees the Namami Gange program, has implemented various measures to protect dolphins.

International Experience:

The Rhine Action Plan (1987), developed by the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) — including countries such as Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands — has successfully contributed to the conservation of salmon, another indicator species.

Key Points Related to the Gangetic Dolphin:

• Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica gangetica
• Discovery: The species was officially discovered in 1801.
• Habitat: Gangetic dolphins are found in the river systems of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. They are adapted to freshwater environments and are virtually blind, relying on echolocation (ultrasonic sounds) to hunt for prey, which helps them form mental images of their surroundings. Locally, they are also referred to as ‘susu’.
• Population: The global population of Gangetic dolphins is estimated to be around 4,000, with approximately 80% residing in the Indian subcontinent.

Significance:

• Environmental Indicator: Gangetic dolphins are vital indicators of the health of river ecosystems.

Threats:

1. Bycatch: Dolphins often inhabit the same areas of rivers as humans, where fish are abundant and water currents are slower. This overlap leads to bycatch, where dolphins are accidentally caught in fishing nets, posing a significant threat to their population.
2. Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and human activities contribute to habitat degradation, severely affecting dolphin populations.
3. Dams: The construction of dams and irrigation projects disrupts their habitats, making dolphins vulnerable to inbreeding and other threats. Dolphins downstream of dams face additional dangers from pollution, increased fishing, and vessel traffic, while also struggling with reduced food supply due to altered fish migration and breeding patterns.

Conservation Status:

• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I (most endangered)
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix II (species needing international cooperation for conservation)

Other Conservation Efforts:

• National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC): The NDRC is being established on the Patna University campus in a 4,400 square meter area dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Gangetic river dolphin.
• Dolphin Sanctuary: The Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar is another key initiative.
• National Ganga River Dolphin Day: Celebrated on 5th October by the National Mission for Clean Ganga to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts.
• Conservation Action Plan: The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin (2010-2020) identified various threats to dolphin populations, including river traffic, irrigation canals, and the depletion of their prey base.