Project lion, project dolphin

  • August 18, 2020
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Environment

Context:

Prime minister in his Independence Day speech had announced the launch of Project Lion and Project Dolphin

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:

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.
Environment Project lion project dolphin