Govt declares dolphin national animal

The Centre has declared dolphins a national aquatic animal in order to save the rare freshwater species from disappearing from the country's aqua map.

"Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphins as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga in the country," Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told mediapersons here.

He said the decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to streamline steps to rejuvenate the river Ganga.

"Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had proposed naming dolphins as national aquatic animal at the meeting which was approved by the Authority," Ramesh said.

He felt that by declaring dolphins as a national aquatic animal, the government is not only ensuring the survival of the species which are endemic to river Ganga but also seeking cleansing of the river.

Ramesh maintained that as the big cat is a symbol of ecosystem in forests, the presence of river dolphin in a river system too signifies a healthy aquatic life in freshwaters of rivers.

"Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolises greater bio diversity in the river system," the minister added.

Ramesh said henceforth the health of the river Ganga, for which the government has big plans for its cleaning, will be judged by the presence of the freshwater dolphins.

"We will soon work out details for the Project Dolphins and steps to be taken under it to protect the species," the Union Environment Minister said.

Facing grave threats due to excessive pollution in Ganga and poaching, there are less than 2,000 dolphins left in the country, prompting the World Conservation Union (IUCN), a forum of conservationists, NGOs and government agencies, to categorise it as an endangered species.

The Ganges River Dolphin is an endemic species of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems, extending from the foot of the Himalayas to the tidal zone in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

It has been included in the Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.