Govt to launch Project Dolphin and Project Lion on the lines of Project Tigers

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Concept:

Project dolphin

Project Dolphin will involve conservation of Dolphins and the aquatic habitat through use of modern technology especially in enumeration and anti-poaching activities.
The project will engage the fishermen and other river/ ocean dependent population and will strive for improving the livelihood of the local communities.
The conservation of Dolphin will also envisage activities which will also help in the mitigation of pollution in rivers and in the oceans.
It will include oceanic as well as Gangetic river dolphins, which were declared a National Aquatic species in 2010.
Dolphins are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks.
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.
The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is 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.
IUCN status of Ganges River dolphin:Endagered

Project lion

Project Lion will involve conservation of the Asiatic Lion and its landscape in a holistic manner.
The Project Lion will entail habitat development, engage modern technologies in Lion management and address the issues of disease in Lion and its associated species through advanced world-class research and veterinary care.
The project will also address Human-wildlife conflict and will be inclusive involving local communities living in the vicinity of Lion landscape and will also provide livelihood opportunities.
Asiatic lions were once distributed upto the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.
At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion.
The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, in Appendix I of CITES and as Endangered on IUCN Red List.