National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC)

National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC)

Subject: Environment

Context: The much-awaited National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC), a big step for the conservation of the endangered Gangetic river dolphin, will soon be a reality as the process to set it up has finally begun.

Concept:

• The Bihar forest, environment and climate change department had sought approval for this as any construction within 200 metres of the Ganga is restricted.
• The state could have taken advantage of Project Dolphin on the lines of Project Tiger,
• The steering committee for the implementation of Project Dolphin, said Bihar had a natural advantage as it accounted for 50 per cent of the world’s river dolphin population dolphin habitat had been threatened and disturbed in the Ganga.
• NDRC would boost conservation efforts of dolphins and would provide an opportunity for in-depth research on dolphins including its changing behaviour, survival skills, food habits, cause of death and other aspects.

Gangetic river dolphin

• The Gangetic river dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal. It is a Schedule I animal under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It has been declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The Gangetic river dolphin is one of four freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other three are found in the Yangtze river in China (now extinct), the Indus river in Pakistan and the Amazon river in South America.
• The dolphin is found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is blind and finds its way and prey in river waters through echolocation. Bihar is home to around half of the estimated 3,000 Gangetic dolphins in India.
• Dolphins prefer water that is at least five to eight feet deep. They are usually found in turbulent waters, where there are enough fish for them to feed on.
• Gangetic dolphins live in a zone where there is little or no current, helping them save energy. If they sense danger, they can dive into deep waters. The dolphins swim from the no-current zone to the edges to hunt for fish and return.