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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS
02 February, 2024
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River dolphins are a group of freshwater cetaceans that inhabit various river systems across Asia and South America. The Six Surviving River Dolphin Species include: Amazon, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Tucuxi, and the Yangtze finless porpoise.The Chinese river dolphin was deemed 'probably extinct' in 2007.
As per the IUCN Red list, Yangtze finless porpoise are classified as Critically Endangered.Amazon, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy and Tucuxi are labeled as Endangered.
Note: The Yangtze finless porpoise is the world’s only freshwater porpoise but it is included with the other freshwater cetaceans under the umbrella name ‘river dolphins’.
The Amazon river dolphin also known as the pink river dolphin or boto is the largest river dolphin.
About Gangetic River dolphin
The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801.They were declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.
Freshwater species:The Gangetic river dolphin is one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world.
The other three are the baiji, now likely extinct from the Yangtze River in China, the bhulan of the Indus in Pakistan and the boto of the Amazon River in Latin America.
Habitat:
Characteristics:
Different names:
They are also known as Susu, Hihu, Blind dolphin, Ganga river dolphin, side swimming dolphin and South Asian river dolphin.
They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to see an image in their mind.
IUCN Status: Ganges river dolphins are listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
Environmental significance
Threats
Katarnia wildlife sanctuary
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Global Declaration for River Dolphins
Recently, 11 Asian and South American countries signed a landmark deal in Bogota, Colombia to save the world’s six surviving species of river dolphins from extinction.This landmark deal signifies a ray of hope in combating the severe decline of river dolphin populations, which have dwindled by a staggering 73% since the 1980s.
Global Declaration for River Dolphins?
The Global Declaration for River Dolphins aims to halt the decline of all river dolphin species and bolster the most vulnerable populations through concerted efforts.It outlines measures such as eradicating gillnets, reducing pollution, expanding research initiatives, and creating protected areas to safeguard the remaining river dolphin species.
Countries that adopted the declaration include: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and Venezuela.
There was also a representative from the regional government in Indonesia that has responsibility for the Mahakam river.
Foundational Pillars:
Challenges Faced by River Dolphins:
River dolphins are threatened by diverse factors, including unsustainable fishing practices, hydropower dam construction, pollutionfrom various industries, agriculture, and mining, as well as habitat loss.Also, the recent tragic deaths of over 150 river dolphins in the drought-stricken Lake Tefe in the Amazon illustrate how climate change poses an increasingly severe threat to their survival.
Successful Conservation Efforts:
Conservation efforts in populated river basins like the Indus and Yangtze have seen success.
Moreover, the World Wildlife Fund's electronic pinger project saved 80 dolphins in Indonesia's Mahakam river from gill net entanglement.
Source: worldwildlife
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