Why in the News?

The Second Range wide Dolphin Survey has been launched from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh under Project Dolphin to update dolphin population estimates, assess habitat quality and identify threats across India’s river systems.

About Project Dolphin

A national conservation initiative of the Government of India for protecting riverine and oceanic dolphins through habitat protection, scientific monitoring and community participation.

Key details

Launched: 15 August 2020
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Aim:
- Conserve dolphin diversity in India
- Address threats like pollution, habitat degradation, by catch and altered river flows
- Involve local communities and stakeholders

Key features

10 year initiative with pan India coverage
Focus on riverine and oceanic species
Scientific surveys and monitoring for population trends
Linked with river ecosystem conservation and policy action

Second Range wide Dolphin Survey

A pan India scientific estimation exercise to assess:
- Dolphin population size
- Distribution and habitat condition
- Anthropogenic and ecological threats

Covers riverine and estuarine dolphins in a structured manner.

Implementation and coverage

Phase I:
- Main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar
- Indus river system
Phase II: Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, Sundarbans delta and Odisha river and estuarine systems
Coordinating agency: Wildlife Institute of India
Implemented with State Forest Departments and conservation partners
Uses standardised protocols, hydrophones for acoustic monitoring and trained field teams

Note: Oceanic dolphins in Indian waters include Indo-Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus), spinner (Stenella longirostris), seen along Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha coasts in Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Previous Survey Findings (2021 to 2023)

Around 6,327 riverine dolphins recorded across India
Highest populations: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Followed by West Bengal and Assam
Small population of Indus River Dolphin recorded in the Beas system

Prelims Takeaways

Project Dolphin was launched in 2020
Nodal ministry is MoEFCC
Second survey uses acoustic monitoring via hydrophones
Ganga and Brahmaputra systems are key dolphin habitats
India hosts both riverine and oceanic dolphins

[2014] Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganga River Dolphins?

1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers

2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers

3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally

4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

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