The whistle blows on phase two of India’s dolphin population tally, igniting a nationwide mission from the banks of Bijnor. This ambitious survey underscores the urgent need to monitor and revive populations of the blind yet benevolent Ganges River dolphin.
Coordinated by forestry officials and academia, the operation deploys multidisciplinary squads across 12 states. Methodologies blend traditional visual counts with cutting-edge tech like passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to detect echolocation clicks unique to dolphins.
Once abundant, dolphin numbers plummeted due to barrages fragmenting habitats and chemical runoff poisoning waters. The 2023 baseline pegged the population at about 2,800, with stable trends in protected zones but declines elsewhere.
Kicking off in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, teams navigated misty riverine trails at first light. ‘Sightings confirm healthy breeding grounds here,’ noted field coordinator Arun Patel. Parallel efforts in Bihar and Assam report similar optimism.
Beyond enumeration, the census feeds into habitat restoration projects, including fish ladders over dams and anti-vandalism patrols. Schools and NGOs amplify messages on dolphin-friendly practices, from biodegradable nets to pollution reporting.
Challenges persist: high water flows and poacher intrusions test team resilience. Yet, with government backing via Project Dolphin, momentum builds. Final tallies will inform a decade-long action plan, potentially declaring more river segments as conservation reserves. This census isn’t mere data—it’s a lifeline for an aquatic heritage.