3. Status of freshwater dolphin species
•
•
•
•
Yellow river dolphin (Baiji)
Ganges river dolphin (Shushuk)
Indus river dolphin
Amazon River dolphin (Pink dolphin or boto)
4. Effect of water development on river dolphins
– Embankments
– High dams
– Barrages
– Closures
– Groins and spurs
– Withdrawal of surface water
– Dredging and loop-cutting
5. Threats from other human activities
– Use of dolphin products
– Fisheries by-catch
– Directed catch
– Overexploitation of fisheries
– Pollution
6. Status of Dolphins in the Brahmaputra
Upper Brahmaputra
Lower Brahmaputra
(Wakid, A. & Braulik, G. , 2009)
(Smith et. al., 1998)
o Number – 264 in 1044 km
o Threats – Fish by-catch
o Conservation – Awareness,
Regulation, Sanctuaries
o Number – 38~58 in 190 km
o Threats – Fish by-catch,
directed hunting, Water
development projects
o Conservation – Awareness,
regulation, Sanctuaries, fish
friendly structures, Nonstructural flood
management
7. Co-management of Brahmaputra river
• River as a continuum
• Need for trans-boundary cooperation for
dolphin conservation is well recognized
‘in order to conserve dolphins and maintain
genetic viability national efforts alone may not
be adequate. Bilateral cooperation at the
regional level is necessary’ (WWF, 2006)
9. Entry points
• Gangetic Dolphin is the National Aquatic
Animal of India (declared in 2009)
• Co-management of Sundarbans agreed
between Bangladesh and India (Signed in
2012)
• Joint survey and tracking
• IUCN joint studies (Ecosystems for life)
• Awareness campaigns
