Lucknow, October 18: In a recent survey to check the population of Ganga River Dolphins, it was found that their number has increased from 22 in 2015 to 33 in 2018. Reports inform that the World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) along with the Uttar Pradesh forest department held a survey under the ‘My Ganga, My Dolphin’ programme from October 10-15 over a strs Universe New Crown, See Pics

Lucknow, October 18: In a recent survey to check the population of Ganga River Dolphins, it was found that their number has increased from 22 in 2015 to 33 in 2018. Reports inform that the World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) along with the Uttar Pradesh forest department held a survey under the ‘My Ganga, My Dolphin’ programme from October 10-15 over a stretch of nearly 205km. The survey covered the Bijnor barrage to Narora barrage along the Ganga river.

The population of Ganga River Dolphin which was granted non-human personhood by the Union government in 2017 was on the verge of extinction. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the officials said the 33 dolphins found during the survey included three calves which indicated that the slow -breeding dolphins have flourished on the stretch. The survey further informed that there was positive river health and biodiversity. River Ganga Will Be Completely Clean by March 2020, Says Nitin Gadkari.

Reports inform that the survey covered a 106.9km stretch from Bijnor to Garhmukteshwar, along with the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, and another 98km stretch from Garhmukteshwar to Narora which is a Ramsar site. Senior coordinator from WWF-India, Sanjeev Yadav informed they found 30 adults and three calves during the survey. He said the major dolphin population is found beyond Allahabad, Varanasi and Balia districts. Time, Money and Right Approach Needed to Clean Ganga.

Yadav said the increasing number is an encouraging sign as dolphins are slow breeders. “These dolphins breed every two or three years. Finding three calves amongst a small population is encouraging. A normal dolphin here has a length of 1-1.5 metre. The two barrages are close and it is one of the pristine habitats and is rich in biodiversity,” he added.

The Dolphins in the Ganga river are also flagged as the ‘Tiger of the Ganges’. They are considered the mascot of a healthy aquatic environment and acts as an indicator species. Lalit Verma, conservator of forests (Meerut), UP forest department, further added that the survey means the dolphins are breeding and have found a good habitat. This is an indicator that the stretch is a suitable habitat for dolphins.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2018 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).