Lok Sabha Question No. 868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Conservation of Dolphins
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 868

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021.

## Conservation of Dolphins

## 868. SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps for conservation of Dolphins in Gangetic river basin;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government maintains data of the total number of freshwater Dolphins and sea Dolphins and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there has been decrease in the population of Dolphins across the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

The  important  steps  taken  by  Government  for  conservation  of  Gangetic  River

- (a) and (b) Dolphin ( Platanista gangetica gangetica ) include:
- i. Gangetic  River  Dolphin  ( Platanista  gangetica  gangetica )  has  been listed in Schedule-I thereby giving them the highest degree of protection.
- ii. Gangetic  River  Dolphin  has  been  designated  as  the  National  Aquatic Animal of India.
- iii. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has included Gangetic River Dolphin as one of the 22 species for taking up recovery programme  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Development  of Wildlife Habitats'.
- iv. Important  habitats  of  Gangetic  River  Dolphin  along  the  Ganges  river have been notified as Protected Areas, such as the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar.
- v. A  project,  'Development  of  Conservation  Action  Plan for River Dolphins'  has  been  initiated  with  financial  support  from  National Authority  CAMPA  for  duration  of  five  years  from  2016-2021.  This project is coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India.
- vi. The  Prime  Minister  on  15 th August  2020  has  announced  Project Dolphin  for  better  conservation  of  both  riverine    as  well  as  marine Dolphins.
- (c), (d) and (e) The  estimated  population  of  River  Dolphins in  the  mainstream  and  major tributaries in India is as given below:

| Species             | River system   | River system                     | River Dolphin population estimate   |
|---------------------|----------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Brahmaputra    | Brahmaputra                      | 877 ± 19                            |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Brahmaputra    | Kulsi                            | 37                                  |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Brahmaputra    | Subhansari                       | 48 ± 6                              |
| River               | Ganga          | Main Ganga (Bihar & West Bengal) | 1337 ± 43                           |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Ganga          | Main Ganga (Uttar Pradesh)       | 310                                 |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Ganga          | Hooghly                          | 236                                 |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Ganga          | Roopnarayan                      | 25                                  |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Ganga          | Kosi                             | 82                                  |
| Gangetic Dolphin    | Ganga          | Chambal                          | 86                                  |
| Indus River Dolphin | Indus          | Beas                             | 11                                  |

Country wide population estimate of marine dolphins are currently not available.

As per the studies conducted on River Dolphins, the population of Dolphins are known to be stable in the main stem of Ganga and Brahmaputra, although there has been decline in the tributaries. The range of the Dolphin has also declined by 40% since its historical distribution.

With a view to provide better  protection to Dolphins, the 'Project Dolphin' has been announced by the Prime Minister on 15 th August 2020.

.

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