Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 19 (HBTV): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) conducted the first-ever Ganges River Dolphin tagging in Assam on Wednesday. This initiative was implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department and Aaranyak, with funding from the National CAMPA Authority.

This is the first tagging of its kind, not only in India but also for the species, marking a significant milestone in Project Dolphin. A healthy male river dolphin was tagged and released under veterinary care, after it was decided to undertake satellite tagging of dolphins. The tagging exercise will help scientists understand the seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilization of the dolphins, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav shared the achievement on X, calling it a "historic" milestone for the species and India. "Happy to share the news of the first-ever tagging of Ganges River Dolphin in Assam—a historic milestone for the species and India! This MoEFCC and National CAMPA-funded project, led by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with Assam Forest Dept and Aaranyak, will deepen our understanding of conserving our National Aquatic Animal," Yadav wrote.

The Ganges River Dolphin, India's National Aquatic Animal, is unique in its ecology, being nearly blind and relying on echolocation for its biological needs. About 90% of the species' population resides in India, historically spread across the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems. However, its distribution has drastically declined over the past century. Despite its wide range, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding this species due to its elusive behaviour, as it surfaces for only 5-30 seconds at a time, posing challenges in understanding its ecological needs and planning effective conservation interventions.

Under Project Dolphin, the MoEFCC, funded through the National CAMPA Authority, has tasked the Wildlife Institute of India with conducting comprehensive research to develop a conservation action plan for the species' long-term protection. As apex predators and umbrella species for the river systems, ensuring the well-being of Ganges River Dolphins is crucial for sustaining the entire river ecosystem.

The tagging was made possible by advancements in technology. The lightweight tags emit signals compatible with Argos satellite systems, even with the dolphin's limited surfacing time, and are designed to minimize interference with the dolphin's movement.

Plans are underway to extend this initiative to other states inhabited by Ganges River Dolphins to build a comprehensive understanding of their population dynamics and habitat needs.

This monumental effort underscores India's commitment to wildlife conservation and sets a new benchmark in the protection of endangered species.

(ANI)