River dolphin is national aquatic animal

NEW DELHI: River dolphin has been declared as the national aquatic animal to save it from extinction, the government said on Wednesday.

"During the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) held on October 5 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it was decided to declare river dolphin as the national aquatic animal," environment minister Jairam Ramesh told the Lok Sabha.

Replying to a written question, he said poaching and habitat degradation due to declining river water flow, heavy siltation and construction of barrages that hinder their movement are the main reasons for decline in their population.

Ramesh said that various steps are being taken to protect the migratory species which has been categorised in the Schedule-I of Wildlife Protection.

"The steps include declaration of their important habitat as protected area, besides financial and technical assistance to various schemes for conservation of wildlife," he said.