1,263 dolphins sighted in Ganga & tributaries

NEW DELHI: As many as 1,263 dolphins have been sighted in 3,350 km stretch of Ganga and its tributaries in Uttar Pradesh starting from the barrage in Kanpur.

The dolphin census, a collaborative effort by Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and WWF-India supported by National Mission for Clean Ganga, was done under the 'My Ganga, My Dolphin' 2015 campaign of the UP government.

According to the census, stretches downstream Varanasi registered 269 dolphins and the 125 km stretch upstream of Fatehpur saw 175 dolphins.

Stretches of Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandhak, Chambal recorded an increase whereas Ramsar site Brijghat to Narora recorded a decrease, the census said.

Under the campaign, 3,350 kilometres was surveyed by 21 teams and local communities of the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ken, Betwa, Son, Sharda, Geruwa, Gahagra Gandak and Rapti in 32 stretches led by Divisional Forest Officers, 23 NGOs and community volunteers between October 5-8.

"Besides mapping the population and distribution of Gangetic dolphins, emphasis was laid on sensitising local communities on Ganga dolphins, its importance and the steps needed to eliminate the threats," Sanjeev Saran, Principal Secretary (Forests), said.