Ganga dolphin declared National Aquatic Animal

Ganga Dolphin, an endemic and endangered species is found in the holy river Ganga mostly between Patna to Bhagalpur. Forest and Environment Minister on the eve of maiden meeting of Ganga River Basin Authority declared it as 'National Aquatic Animal'.

CJ: Om Prakash Yadav

Tue, Oct 06, 2009 10:44:27 IST

Views:
0
Comments:
0

Rate:

5.0 / 33 votes

Offbeat News :

GANGA DOLPHIN, locally known as ‘Sauns’ has been declared as ‘National Aquatic Animal’. Decision to this effect has been taken by Forest and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on the eve of maiden meeting of Ganga River Basin Authority (GRBA) chaired by PM in New Delhi, on the suggestion of Nitish Kumar, CM of Bihar.

Ganga Dolphin, an endemic and endangered species are found in the holy river Ganga mostly between Patna to Bhagalpur. Environmentalists have been agitating for long time to protect this aquatic animal, the number of which is said to be around 2000 only, in the whole world. About 2 to 2.5 metre long saus, the dolphin came into prominence in 1991, when the state government declared it ‘endangered species’ and declared 60 kilometre Ganga strip near Bhagalpur as ‘Ganges dolphin sanctuary’.

This is the single zone, in which about 160-200 Ganga dolphins have been counted. The fishing of this endangered species has been banned years ago but still then fisher men do not hesitate killing this animal largely due to ignorance. The feature of this endemic animal is such that it looks like ferocious one but on the contrary these saus are very harmless and human friendly. Surprisingly no such attention has so far been given internationally to this animal.

Environmentalists are particularly very excited and happy on this decision and say that this declaration would now help in big way to protect and preserve this species. The time has come to make information related to this animal available for the world in a big way and make people more aware about this animal.

E-mail |

Print | Post comment

More in Offbeat News

Post your comment

Posted comments (2)

	Whenever I visited at ganga bank in varanasi, I was surprised to see a black aquetic animal overturn in water. Through mallah (boat man) I come to know that It was called sounse. I always try to gain information on this animal but i couldn't. Now i feel sad when i see day by day ganga get narrow and polluted. This time I have not seen saunse in varanasi. It may disappear due to pollution level. Ganga is our lifeline and saunse is an indicator.
	\| 10 October 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse