Latest news with #ProjectDolphin
India Today
3 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Dolphins beached, Kerala frets
In Kerala, dolphin carcasses are increasingly washing up ashore, with 18 reported in 2024 and four in 2025 so far, possibly linked to the cargo vessel carrying hazardous material sinking off Alappuzha. Most carcasses are of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, protected under the Indian Wildlife Act. Experts attribute the rise to increased reporting, intensive fishing, underwater noise pollution and vessel interactions. Rough seas in the monsoon disrupt dolphin communication, increasing vessel strikes. Autopsies have been conducted to determine cause of death, which include vessel strikes, bycatch (caught unintentionally), disease and pollution. Project Dolphin, launched in 2020, had stressed on conservation efforts focusing on a marine-specific approach, balancing fishermen's livelihoods and scientific involvement.
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Assam reports 10 Gangetic dolphin deaths from 2020-25
Guwahati: A total of 10 cases of mortality of Gangetic river dolphins were found across various river systems in Assam between 2020 and 2025 due to various reasons, including accidental killing and internal injury. This was stated by the minister of state in the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to the questions raised by Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi. The current estimated population of Gangetic river dolphins in the Brahmaputra river basin is 584. The stretch of the Brahmaputra covered is between Sadiya and Hatsingimari. Project Dolphin, the first-ever comprehensive population survey of river dolphins, was conducted in 2021-23 in the entire range of the Ganges river dolphin in the Ganga and Brahmaputra, as well as the Indus River Dolphin in the Beas river systems. The minister added that the survey estimated a population of 6,324 Ganges river dolphins. As per studies conducted on river dolphins, the population of Gangetic river dolphins in the Brahmaputra has been reported as stable, but there are no recent reports of its presence in the Barak river in Assam. The minister further added that the ministry has not undertaken any specific study on the impact of the construction of dams and other infrastructure at locations having more populations of Ganges river dolphins in the northeast region. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, the minister said the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 mandates a comprehensive environmental clearance process, which also includes biodiversity assessments as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for dam construction projects. Further, for projects involving more than 50 hectares and falling within protected areas, a biodiversity impact assessment report is required for consideration of the project by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife. The enviornment ministry provides financial assistance to state govts and union territories under the centrally sponsored scheme "Development of Wildlife Habitats" for conservation and management of protected areas, conservation of wildlife outside protected areas, and recovery programmes of 22 identified critically endangered species and their habitats as per the Annual Plan of Operations (APO) received from the state govts and union territories and subject to availability of funds. A total of 10 states and Union Territories received funds for the conservation of dolphins under the component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'. Assam received Rs 24.39 crore in the 2022-23 financial year for the purpose of dolphin conservation.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Reporting up? Dolphin carcasses keep washing up on state's shores
Kochi: Is the Kerala coast turning into a graveyard for dolphins? The number of dolphin carcasses washing ashore in the state is on the rise — 18 were recorded last year, up from 12 in 2023. This year, around four carcasses have been reported so far, including two in Thrissur, in which forest officials suspect the sinking of a cargo vessel carrying hazardous material off the Alappuzha coast may have played a role. Of the 18 dolphins found last year, nine were males and two females, while the gender of the rest could not be identified due to decomposition. Notably, six strandings were reported in Aug alone. Seven of last year's carcasses were recovered in the Kozhikode forest territorial division. The carcasses found along the Kerala coast are of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, a species listed under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Experts in marine mammal research attribute the rising trend to increased awareness about reporting of strandings, intensive fishing activities, underwater noise pollution from the growing number of vessels and interactions between dolphins and vessels. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo "Dolphins used to drift ashore in the region earlier also, but their reporting was comparatively less. Marine mammals die in sea for various reasons: vessel strikes, entanglement as bycatch, old age, disease and pollution. After death, the carcass either sinks or drifts ashore. With coastal communities now more aware of these species and their significance, almost all strandings are being reported," said R Ratheesh Kumar, a senior scientist with the marine biodiversity and environment management division of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). He said the stranding of the marine mammal carcass was observed to be comparatively high on our coast during the monsoon. "This is due to the drifting of carcasses mostly to the coastal region as the monsoon winds are towards the coast. Also, the rough seas during the monsoon disrupt dolphins, which rely on sound for communication, navigation and hunting, increasing the chances of them being accidentally struck by vessels," he said. Fishermen are well aware that killing dolphins is a serious offence. "They don't target dolphins, but these mammals sometimes get caught in fishing nets. Dolphins, which breathe through lungs, need to come to the sea surface every 8 to 12 minutes to breathe. When they get stuck in nets, they cannot surface to breathe, which can lead to death. The carcasses that do not sink may eventually wash ashore," he said. Veterinary officials conduct autopsies on these carcasses to determine the cause of death. Chief wildlife warden Pramod G Krishnan, who was part of the Project Dolphin launched by the Union govt in 2020, said a land-based model of conservation with a species-centric approach is not suitable for marine species. "We need a marine conservation template, keeping in mind the fishermen community, their livelihood and conservation needs. For dolphins to survive, we need to ensure that the livelihood requirements of people are met. We need to involve scientific institutions as well," he said.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Project Dolphin must be backed by real research'
1 2 3 National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) was set up in Patna to boost research on the Ganges dolphin. But it remains non-functional. In this exclusive interview with TOI's B K Mishra, Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Ravindra Kumar Sinha calls for urgent govt support. Excerpts: Were ancient Indians aware of the Ganges dolphin's significance? Did they take any steps for its protection? People in ancient India recognised the importance of the Ganges dolphin and took steps for its conservation. Ashoka the Great, ruler of the Magadh Empire, issued the world's first known wildlife conservation order, which included the Ganges dolphin, then called Ganga puputaka. This edict, recorded in the Fifth Pillar Edicts, prohibited the killing of listed animals. The Ganges dolphin is also referenced in the story of Ganga avataran. What does modern science say about these dolphins? Scientific research suggests the Ganges dolphin is the most ancient dolphin species in the world. It lost its eyesight due to the absence of a lens, and its retinas are vestigial. Anatomical features like the presence of a caecum at the junction of the small and large intestines – absent in other dolphins, whales or porpoises – further set it apart. The position of the testes also supports its status as the most ancient surviving dolphin. What is the status of "Project Dolphin"? Ten years after the Ganges dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal by the ministry of environment and forests, PM Narendra Modi launched "Project Dolphin" on Independence Day in 2020 for the conservation of both Ganges and marine dolphins. Notably, the proposal I submitted to the Planning Commission in 2012 included conservation of both riverine and marine dolphins as part of the NDRC's scientific work. The NDRC was set up at your initiative. What kind of research was it meant to conduct and why is it still not operational? The NDRC at Law College Ghat was funded by the then Planning Commission in 2013 following my proposal. Patna University provided land after a five-year delay, thanks to the CM's intervention. However, no regular director has been appointed and no budget has been allocated. This is the only such centre in India, and possibly in the world, that deserves a renowned river dolphin conservationist with global experience at its helm. The state govt must provide budgetary support to enable scientists to begin research, publish quality papers and attract international attention and funding. Without external funding, quality research and international publications are not possible. How can today's youth contribute to Ganges dolphin conservation? With proper lab equipment and fieldwork facilities at the NDRC, the younger generation will be drawn to scientific research and conservation efforts for the Ganges dolphin. Young people can also play a key role in raising awareness about the importance of dolphins and the urgent need for their protection. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
