Slow progress of Project Dolphin

Context

Despite being highlighted during various occasions, the Project Dolphin has still not progressed enough.

What is Project Dolphin?

• Project Dolphin is one of the activities planned under Arth Ganga, an ambitious inter-ministerial initiative of the government, which was approved at the first meeting of the NGC in 2019.
• The project focuses on the conservation of both river and sea dolphins.

Gangetic dolphin

• The Gangetic river system is home to a vast variety of aquatic life, including the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica).
• The Gangetic dolphin is one of five species of river dolphin found around the world.
  • The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801. 
• It is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.
• They feed majorly on fish, but are blind.
• These dolphins have a highly developed ‘sonar system’ that helps them look for fish even in murky waters. 
• They emit an ultrasonic sound, which reaches the prey.
  • Listening to the sound waves that return, the dolphins form an image in its mind and subsequently catch hold of their prey.
• In 2009, the government declared Ganges river dolphin a national aquatic animal.
• It is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The Ganges river dolphin is found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Bangladesh and India.
• A few individuals survive in Nepal in the Karnali River and possibly the Sapta Kosi River.