India conducts first-ever Ganges River Dolphin Tagging in Assam

• • Ganga River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) – Known as the “Tiger of the Ganges,” discovered in 1801.
  • Declared National Aquatic Animal in 2009 and State Aquatic Animal of Assam.
• The announcement was made at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).

• Habitat:  Around 90% of the species live in India, primarily in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems.
• Features: Blind, lives in freshwater, uses ultrasonic sounds to hunt, travels in small groups, and surface every 30-120 seconds for breathing.

• Acts as an indicator of river ecosystem health (being the apex predator).
• Threats: Unintentional killing through fishing gear, poaching for oil, habitat destruction, pollution (industrial waste, pesticides, noise).

• IUCN: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I
• CMS: Appendix I

Conservation Initiatives: Project Dolphin, Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary (Bihar), National Ganga River Dolphin Day (October 5).

PYQ:

[2015] Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

(a) Saltwater crocodile

(b) Olive ridley turtle

(c) Gangetic dolphin

(d) Gharial