Project Dolphin

Subject: Environment

Context:

In his Independence Day Speech this year, Prime Minister announced the government’s plan to launch a Project Dolphin. The proposed project is aimed at saving both river and marine dolphins.

Concept:

• 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: