"My Ganga, My Dolphin":

In a collaborative effort World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India and the Uttar Pradesh forest department with the support of HSBC Bank holded a 3-day programme "My Ganga, My Dolphin" to count the number of river dolphins in the Ganges River in and around Uttar Pradesh. The programme also made people aware about the endangered mammal. Ganges River Dolphin: * Ganges River Dolphin or Platanista gangetica is the National Aquatic Animal of India (in 2009). * This mammal is also believed represent the purity of the holy Ganges as it can only survive in pure and fresh water. * They are locally known as susu,because of the noise it makes while breathing. * This species are found in various regions of the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers in India,Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and the Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh. * In India they are found in Assam, U.P, M.P, Rajasthan, Bihar, jharkhand and west Bengal(7 states). * Their Ideal habitate are in the Ganga, Chambal, Ghaghra, Sone, Kosi, the Brahmaputra and kulsi rivers. What is the current status of this species? * River dolphin is a critically endangered species in India and therefore, has been included in the Schedule I for the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. * According to a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimate, the population of these graceful creatures plummeted from 4,000-5,000 in 1982 to a less than 2,000 at present. * Moreover, their annual mortality rate is as high as 130 to 160 animals. * The UP forest department (UPFD) is upbeat with the result of its first-ever dolphin census. Experts working on the My Ganga, My Dolphin campaign have counted as many as 671 Gangetic river dolphins after covering about 2,800km on the Ganga and its tributaries. * The main reasons for fall in population of the species are poaching and habitat destruction due to declining flow, heavy siltation, construction of dams creating physical barrier for this migratory species.