Indian Gangetic Dolphins gain unparalleled protection in India

Indian Gangetic Dolphins recognized as non-human persons; gain unparalleled protection in India The Indian Gangetic Dolphins have been conferred unprecedented protection in India, since their recognition as non-human persons. In line with this, all dolphinariums and other places that capture and confine Dolphins for entertainment or commercial purposes have been advised to shut in India. The Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) has been listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, thereby being entitled to the highest degree of protection. The species was also recognized as the National aquatic animal of India in 2010. Know about the Indian Gangetic Dolphins: Dolphins are among the oldest creatures in the world. The Ganges river dolphin was first discovered in 1801. It once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. However, its population has been significantly reduced in the area, over the years. The Gangetic river dolphins have a sturdy, yet flexible body with large flippers and a low triangular dorsal fin. It weighs up to 150kg. The species inhabits only freshwater and is essentially blind. It has a unique way of hunting down its prey by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to picture an image in their mind. They are frequently found alone or in small groups. What pushed the once abundant species towards extinction? The Gangetic River Dolphins, which was once an abundant species, found in thousands of numbers across India has dwindled abysmally to less than 2000 during the last century. Major roadblocks in effective conservation of the species: The rapid decline in its population is a direct outcome of habitat fragmentation due to the construction of dams and barrages, indiscriminate fishing, confinement under poor conditions for entertainment and commercial purposes, and killing. It is due to these reasons that despite high level of protection, the dolphin population in India continues to decline. The lack of awareness and continuing anthropogenic pressures are posing incessant threats to the existing dolphin population. Towards protection & conservation of Gangetic dolphins: In a Lok Sabha session held in Feb 2021, Babul Supriyo, MOS, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, stated that the following steps have been taken by the Govt. towards the protection & conservation of Gangetic river dolphins: 1. Non-human person status: In legal terms, the world is divided into two entities, i.e., things and persons. While things are considered inanimate and are devoid of any rights, once an entity is defined as a person it is subjected to some legal rights. So, a "non-human person" refers to any entity/ organism/ species that is guaranteed some rights by law for its preservation and conservation. 2. Declared the National aquatic animal of India The Ministry of Environment and Forests on 18th May 2010, declared the Gangetic River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal of India, representing the purity of the holy Ganga as it can only survive in pure and freshwater. 3. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has included Gangetic River Dolphin as one of the 22 species for taking up recovery program under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’. 4. Important habitats of the species have been notified as Protected Areas, such as the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar. 5. ‘Development of Conservation Action Plan for River Dolphins’ has been initiated with financial support from the National Authority CAMPA for a period of five years from 2016-2021 in coordination with the Wildlife Institute of India. 6. The Prime Minister on 15th August 2020 announced Project Dolphin for better conservation of both riverine as well as marine Dolphins.

Indian Dolphin