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.
About National Board for Wildlife
- It is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
- The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B.
- The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.
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