National Dolphin Day

The Union Environment Ministry has designated October 5 as National Dolphin Day, to be observed annually starting this year.

Context

The Union Environment Ministry has designated October 5 as National Dolphin Day, to be observed annually starting this year.

Key-points

• The National Board for Wildlife’s (NBWL) standing committee took this decision to designate October 5 as National Dolphin Day.
• The day will focus on generating awareness as it is an integral part of dolphin conservation including the Gangetic Dolphin.
• People’s participation to conserve Dolphins will also be focused upon on this day.
• Focus will also be given to improving the Ganga and its tributaries’ water quality and flow so that Gangetic dolphins can survive.

Important facts about Gangetic Dolphins

• Scientific name: Platanista gangetica.
• The Ganges river dolphin is not only the only member of its genus, but of its family, Plantanistidae, representing an ancient lineage in the order Cetartiodactyla.
• Geographic range: They can be found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Bangladesh and India. A few individuals survive in Nepal in the Karnali River and possibly the Sapta Kosi River.
• Weight: 150-170 kg
• Life span: 18-22 years (in the wild)
• Conservation status: Gangetic Dolphins have been categorized as endangered species under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. 
• The Gangetic dolphin acts as an indicator species. 
• The status of this species provides information on the ecosystem’s overall condition along with information related to the other species that are present in that ecosystem. 
• Threats: The Gangetic Dolphins are threatened due to water diversion, pollution, habitat fragmentation, etc.