Two Gangetic dolphins found dead in Bihar in the last 3 days

A Gangetic dolphin was found dead near Mokama in Patna district on May 29, 2023. The incident is the second of its kind in the last 72 hours, according to officials.

Residents informed the officials about the incident after sighting the carcass on May 29 evening. They claimed it was the second Gangetic dolphin found dead at Sangat Ghat (bank of river Ganga) near Aunta in Mokama, about 90 km from Patna.

Both Gangetic dolphins were killed due to the ongoing mechanised dredging to deepen the riverbed, according to them.

“We got information through local people. But the carcass of only one was found. It was about 8 feet long and weighed 80 kg,” Gopal Sharma, senior scientist and joint director of the Zoological Survey of India, Bihar and Jharkhand, told this reporter.

Some locals had thrown the other carcass into the river, fearing punishment. This is a serious development as the Gangetic dolphin is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, he added.

Sharma said Gangetic dolphins were either killed by dredging or after being trapped in a big fishing net. Both possibilities exist, Sharma said.

The forest department has sent the carcass for a post-mortem to find the cause of death.

However, Prabhat Kumar Gupta, additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), said the cause of death could be confirmed only after getting the post-mortem report. Divisional forest officer, Patna, has been directed to send it for post-mortem, he added.

Extra measures are needed to protect the species, Gupta said. “The Gangetic dolphin conservation programme should focus more on creating awareness among local people and closely monitor dredging or any use of heavy machinery in the river.”

Sharma said the latest incident raised questions about the much-hyped Gangetic dolphin conservation programmes carried out by the Bihar government.

Dolphins are frequently targeted by poachers for their skin and oil. There is a huge demand for this mammal’s meat and fat. The Gangetic river dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has declared it an endangered species.

The dolphin is found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is blind and finds its way and prey in river waters through echolocation. Bihar is home to around half of India’s estimated 3,000 Gangetic dolphins.

Under WPA, special instructions are provided on how to deal with Schedule I animals, Sharma said. There are provisions for a three-year jail term and a fine of Rs 3,000-25,000 for possessing any body part of an animal listed in Schedule I. “The forest officials are accountable and responsible for this,” he said.

In recent years, dolphin killings have been checked to some extent due to conservation efforts and awareness, Gupta said.

Patna Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) did not respond to repeated calls made by this reporter.

Sharma pointed out that RK Sinha, ‘India’s Dolphin Man’, used to remind him that the presence of dolphins was a sign of a healthy riverine ecosystem. Dolphins prefer water that is at least five-eight feet deep. They are usually found in turbulent waters, with enough fish for them to feed on.

Gangetic dolphins live in zones with little or no current, which helps them save energy. On sensing danger, they can dive into deep waters. The dolphins swim from the no-current zone to the edges to hunt for fish and return, Sharma recalled.

The Gangetic river dolphin is one of four freshwater dolphin species worldwide. The other three are found in the Yangtze River in China (now extinct), the Indus River in Pakistan and the Amazon River in South America.

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