Latest news with #RavindraKumarSinha
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Project Dolphin must be backed by real research'
1 2 3 National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) was set up in Patna to boost research on the Ganges dolphin. But it remains non-functional. In this exclusive interview with TOI's B K Mishra, Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Ravindra Kumar Sinha calls for urgent govt support. Excerpts: Were ancient Indians aware of the Ganges dolphin's significance? Did they take any steps for its protection? People in ancient India recognised the importance of the Ganges dolphin and took steps for its conservation. Ashoka the Great, ruler of the Magadh Empire, issued the world's first known wildlife conservation order, which included the Ganges dolphin, then called Ganga puputaka. This edict, recorded in the Fifth Pillar Edicts, prohibited the killing of listed animals. The Ganges dolphin is also referenced in the story of Ganga avataran. What does modern science say about these dolphins? Scientific research suggests the Ganges dolphin is the most ancient dolphin species in the world. It lost its eyesight due to the absence of a lens, and its retinas are vestigial. Anatomical features like the presence of a caecum at the junction of the small and large intestines – absent in other dolphins, whales or porpoises – further set it apart. The position of the testes also supports its status as the most ancient surviving dolphin. What is the status of "Project Dolphin"? Ten years after the Ganges dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal by the ministry of environment and forests, PM Narendra Modi launched "Project Dolphin" on Independence Day in 2020 for the conservation of both Ganges and marine dolphins. Notably, the proposal I submitted to the Planning Commission in 2012 included conservation of both riverine and marine dolphins as part of the NDRC's scientific work. The NDRC was set up at your initiative. What kind of research was it meant to conduct and why is it still not operational? The NDRC at Law College Ghat was funded by the then Planning Commission in 2013 following my proposal. Patna University provided land after a five-year delay, thanks to the CM's intervention. However, no regular director has been appointed and no budget has been allocated. This is the only such centre in India, and possibly in the world, that deserves a renowned river dolphin conservationist with global experience at its helm. The state govt must provide budgetary support to enable scientists to begin research, publish quality papers and attract international attention and funding. Without external funding, quality research and international publications are not possible. How can today's youth contribute to Ganges dolphin conservation? With proper lab equipment and fieldwork facilities at the NDRC, the younger generation will be drawn to scientific research and conservation efforts for the Ganges dolphin. Young people can also play a key role in raising awareness about the importance of dolphins and the urgent need for their protection. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
India's rivers are home to 6,000 dolphins - but they are in trouble
India's longest and most holy river, the Ganges, is home to thousands of dolphins. But their survival is under threat. But these aren't like the ones found in oceans. They don't leap out of the water in spectacular arcs; surface for long intervals or swim in an upright position. Instead, they swim sideways, spend much of their time underwater, have long snouts and are almost completely blind. These are Gangetic dolphins, a species of river dolphin - and India's national aquatic animal - that's found largely in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system in the northern part of the country. A new survey finds India's rivers host around 6,327 river dolphins - 6,324 Gangetic and just three Indus dolphins. A majority of the Indus dolphins are found in Pakistan as the river flows through both the South Asian countries. Both these dolphin species are classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India surveyed 58 rivers across 10 states between 2021 and 2023 to produce the first comprehensive count of India's river dolphins. The origins of river dolphins are as fascinating as the creatures themselves. Often called "living fossils", they evolved from marine ancestors millions of years ago, say scientists. When the sea once flooded low-lying areas of South Asia, these dolphins moved inland - and when the waters receded, they stayed. Over time, they adapted to murky, shallow rivers, developing traits that set them apart from their ocean-dwelling cousins. Experts say the new survey is crucial for tracking river dolphin populations. Since 1980, at least 500 dolphins have died - many accidentally caught in fishing nets or killed deliberately - highlighting the ongoing threat to the species. Conservationist Ravindra Kumar Sinha says that up until the early 2000s, there was very little awareness about river dolphins. In 2009, the Gangetic river dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal to boost conservation. Steps like a 2020 action plan and a dedicated research centre in 2024 have since helped revive its numbers. However, conservationists say there's still a long way to go. Dolphins continue to be poached for their flesh and blubber, from which oil is extracted to use as fishing bait. Other times, they collide with boats or get caught in fishing lines and die. Nachiket Kelkar of the Wildlife Conservation Trust told Sanctuary Asia magazine that many fishermen often didn't report accidental deaths of dolphins fearing legal trouble. Under Indian wildlife laws, accidental or targeted dolphin killings are treated as "hunting" and carry strict penalties. As a result, many poor fishermen quietly dispose of the carcasses to avoid fines. River cruise tourism, which has picked up in India in the past decade, has further threatened their habitat. Dozens of cruise trips operate on both the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. "There's no doubt that disturbances from cruises will gravely impact the dolphins, which are sensitive to noise," conservationist Ravindra Kumar Sinha told The Guardian newspaper. Mr Sinha believes that increased vessel traffic could push Gangetic dolphins towards extinction, much like it did to Baiji dolphins in China's Yangtze river. River dolphins face threats partly due to their own evolution. Nearly blind, they rely on echolocation - high-pitched sound pulses that bounce off objects and return as echoes - to navigate murky waters. While this trait suits their habitat, it also makes them vulnerable to modern threats. Their poor eyesight and slow swimming speed make river dolphins especially prone to collisions with boats and other obstacles. Adding to their vulnerability is their slow reproductive cycle - they mature between six and 10 years of age and females typically give birth to just one calf every two to three years. But Mr Sinha is hopeful about the future of river dolphins in India. "Government initiatives have played a big role in saving the dolphins. A lot has been done but a lot more remains to be done too," he says.
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
India's rivers are home to 6,000 dolphins - but they are in trouble.
India's longest and most holy river, the Ganges, is home to thousands of dolphins. But their survival is under these aren't like the ones found in oceans. They don't leap out of the water in spectacular arcs; surface for long intervals or swim in an upright position. Instead, they swim sideways, spend much of their time underwater, have long snouts and are almost completely are Gangetic dolphins, a species of river dolphin - and India's national aquatic animal - that's found largely in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system in the northern part of the country.A new survey finds India's rivers host around 6,327 river dolphins - 6,324 Gangetic and just three Indus dolphins. A majority of the Indus dolphins are found in Pakistan as the river flows through both the South Asian these dolphin species are classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India surveyed 58 rivers across 10 states between 2021 and 2023 to produce the first comprehensive count of India's river dolphins. The origins of river dolphins are as fascinating as the creatures themselves. Often called "living fossils", they evolved from marine ancestors millions of years ago, say scientists. When the sea once flooded low-lying areas of South Asia, these dolphins moved inland - and when the waters receded, they stayed. Over time, they adapted to murky, shallow rivers, developing traits that set them apart from their ocean-dwelling say the new survey is crucial for tracking river dolphin populations. Since 1980, at least 500 dolphins have died - many accidentally caught in fishing nets or killed deliberately - highlighting the ongoing threat to the Ravindra Kumar Sinha says that up until the early 2000s, there was very little awareness about river 2009, the Gangetic river dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal to boost conservation. Steps like a 2020 action plan and a dedicated research centre in 2024 have since helped revive its conservationists say there's still a long way to continue to be poached for their flesh and blubber, from which oil is extracted to use as fishing bait. Other times, they collide with boats or get caught in fishing lines and Kelkar of the Wildlife Conservation Trust told Sanctuary Asia magazine that many fishermen often didn't report accidental deaths of dolphins fearing legal trouble. Under Indian wildlife laws, accidental or targeted dolphin killings are treated as "hunting" and carry strict penalties. As a result, many poor fishermen quietly dispose of the carcasses to avoid fines. River cruise tourism, which has picked up in India in the past decade, has further threatened their habitat. Dozens of cruise trips operate on both the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers."There's no doubt that disturbances from cruises will gravely impact the dolphins, which are sensitive to noise," conservationist Ravindra Kumar Sinha told The Guardian Sinha believes that increased vessel traffic could push Gangetic dolphins towards extinction, much like it did to Baiji dolphins in China's Yangtze dolphins face threats partly due to their own evolution. Nearly blind, they rely on echolocation - high-pitched sound pulses that bounce off objects and return as echoes - to navigate murky waters. While this trait suits their habitat, it also makes them vulnerable to modern poor eyesight and slow swimming speed make river dolphins especially prone to collisions with boats and other obstacles. Adding to their vulnerability is their slow reproductive cycle - they mature between six and 10 years of age and females typically give birth to just one calf every two to three Mr Sinha is hopeful about the future of river dolphins in India. "Government initiatives have played a big role in saving the dolphins. A lot has been done but a lot more remains to be done too," he says.
