Gangetic River dolphins are from the family of Platanistidae and are an endangered species under schedule 1 of IUCN endangered species listing. Gangetic river dolphins are freshwater dolphins and found in three countries namely India, Nepal and Bangladesh. They are distributed namely in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Sangu-Karnaphuli river systems.
Gangetic river dolphins are the state aquatic animal of Assam and found at the Brahmaputra in many tributaries across Brahmaputra, Assam. The dolphins are essentially blind even though they have eyes, they depend on eco-location for finding food. They emit ultrasonic sounds which waves which bounces back from the prey and fishes giving them the exact location. River dolphins are mammals and they have to surface every 15 to 120 seconds for oxygen. As per reports they are estimated to be around 800+ individuals at the Brahmaputra and seems to be growing each year at the Brahmaputra.
The Gangetic river dolphins play a very significant role for the river eco-system and their presence in rivers indicates that the river ecosystem is healthy.
Threats to the Gangetic river dolphins –
- Unintentional trapping in fishing nets, as the Gangetic dolphins keep tracing the fishes via eco-location. Fishing nets are not traceable to them via ultrasonic sound throw.
- Gangetic river dolphins are poached for the oil from their fats which attracts fish and used for superstitious medicinal purposes with no scientific evidence.
- The habitats of Gangetic river dolphins are always at a threat due to growing water, land, plastic, industrial and superstitious pollution.
- Dams and barrages are an hindrance to the fragmented population of Gangetic river dolphins
Gangetic river dolphins have an estimated lifespan to 28 years to 17.5 years from male to female respectively. The average lifespan is estimated to range from 18 to 22 years usually and it depends the healthy habitats they have and food habits.
The fisherman communities and people living beside the river banks of Brahmaputra plays a very significant role to conserve this vulnerable species from extinction. There are example of fisherman and Gangetic river dolphins working together to find fishes, as the dolphins are very intelligent mammals and playful species.
Some places beside the Brahmaputra where one can find Gangetic river dolphins are namely Kukurmara, Kurua, Subansiri, Orang area, Dibru Saikhowa, Nimatighat and so on.
এনেধৰণৰ অন্যান্য বা-বাতৰিৰ বাবে লাইক কৰক অসম লাইভ ২৪ ৰ ফেচবুক পেজ
