dolphins sighted in Punjab
Rare Indus dolphins spotted
Jan 16, 2008
MUMBAI: The rediscovery and sighting of the highly endangered Indus dolphin, Platanista minor at Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab recently has enthused WWF-India which has recommended a detailed long-term action plan for the protection of the species.
The endangered mammals were first sighted and reported by Basanta Rajkumar, Divisional Forest Officer and sanctuary in charge, during a routine visit of the sanctuary in early December 2007. After the report of the officer, the Forest Department approached the WWF-India to confirm this rare sighting, WWF-India officials said here.
A team of WWF-India officials led by Dr Sandeep Behera, Dolphin Coordinator at the WWF-India under the wetland programme and Dr. Asghar Nawab, expert on aquatic mammals, travelled to the Harike sanctuary and conducted extensive surveys with the support of the Forest Department staff. After three days of extensive river-patrolling in chilly northern Indian winter, the report was confirmed: "Beas-Sutlej River system has Dolphins".
Dr Behera speaking about the dolphin sighting said, "Although the physical appearance of the dolphins sighted looks like the Indus River Dolphin, confirmation of this species can only be validated after detailed study and investigation. This may be the Indus dolphin found in Pakistan or a sub-species of it."
River Dolphins swim in some of the world's mightiest rivers, including the Ganges, Indus, Yangtse and the Amazon. But these river basins are also home to over 15 percent of the world's population and include some of the most densely populated and poorest areas on the earth. Human perturbations and anthropogenic disturbances have led to drastic declines in dolphin populations over much of their distribution images during the last several decades. Several Asian species are now amongst the most endangered of all mammals.
(This report first appeared in The Maharashtra Herald)
Jan 16, 2008
MUMBAI: The rediscovery and sighting of the highly endangered Indus dolphin, Platanista minor at Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab recently has enthused WWF-India which has recommended a detailed long-term action plan for the protection of the species.
The endangered mammals were first sighted and reported by Basanta Rajkumar, Divisional Forest Officer and sanctuary in charge, during a routine visit of the sanctuary in early December 2007. After the report of the officer, the Forest Department approached the WWF-India to confirm this rare sighting, WWF-India officials said here.
A team of WWF-India officials led by Dr Sandeep Behera, Dolphin Coordinator at the WWF-India under the wetland programme and Dr. Asghar Nawab, expert on aquatic mammals, travelled to the Harike sanctuary and conducted extensive surveys with the support of the Forest Department staff. After three days of extensive river-patrolling in chilly northern Indian winter, the report was confirmed: "Beas-Sutlej River system has Dolphins".
Dr Behera speaking about the dolphin sighting said, "Although the physical appearance of the dolphins sighted looks like the Indus River Dolphin, confirmation of this species can only be validated after detailed study and investigation. This may be the Indus dolphin found in Pakistan or a sub-species of it."
River Dolphins swim in some of the world's mightiest rivers, including the Ganges, Indus, Yangtse and the Amazon. But these river basins are also home to over 15 percent of the world's population and include some of the most densely populated and poorest areas on the earth. Human perturbations and anthropogenic disturbances have led to drastic declines in dolphin populations over much of their distribution images during the last several decades. Several Asian species are now amongst the most endangered of all mammals.
(This report first appeared in The Maharashtra Herald)
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