Context: 

India’s first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) has opened in Patna, Bihar to help protect the Gangetic river dolphin.

About National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC)

• National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) has been set up on the premises of Patna University.
  • It is located Near Ganga. 
• This centre is stretched around 4,400 square meters. 
• Its strategic location is very helpful for researchers to examine dolphins in their natural habitat. 
  • It will study how dolphins behave, what they eat, and why they die. 
  • The center will also teach fishermen how to keep dolphins safe while fishing.

• Significance of setting up NDRC

• • Conservation of Endangered Gangetic Dolphins
  • Collecting important Data about the dolphin population.
  • Creation of conservation plans.
  • Maintenance of Ecological Balance
  • Awareness and Education of significance of this species 

About Gangetic River Dolphins.

• National Aquatic Animal: The Gangetic River dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal.
• Other Name: “Tiger of the Ganges.”
• It was officially discovered in 1801.
• Special Among Freshwater Dolphins: It’s one of only four types of freshwater dolphins in the world.
  • The others were found in the Yangtze river in China (but now extinct), the Indus river in Pakistan, and the Amazon river in South America.
• Features: These are essentially blind. 

• • Echolocation: They navigate and find food in river waters using echolocation.
  • Live alone or in group: Gangetic river dolphins are often spotted either alone or in small groups.
    • These groups usually consist of a mother dolphin and her calf.
• Habitat: 
  • These dolphins live in the river systems of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
  • They prefer water that’s around five to eight feet deep and often are found in turbulent waters,where there’s lots of fish.
  • They like places where there’s not much current, so they don’t have to use too much energy.
    • The dolphins move from areas with little or no water flow to the river’s edges to find food. After hunting for fish, they swim back to their original spot.
• Indicators: Gangetic dolphins are like messengers, They tell about the health of the rivers.

• Protection Status:

  • Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I.
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I

Major threats to Gangetic Dolphins

• Unintentional killing in fishing gear.
• Poaching for dolphin oil.
• Habitat destruction due to development and pollution.

News Source: Downtoearth