National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC)

General Studies-III-

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

In News

• India’s first dedicated research centre for the endangered Gangetic River dolphin was inaugurated in Patna, Bihar.
• Bihar houses nearly half of the estimated 3,000 Gangetic dolphins in India.

Objective

• The NDRC aims to be a central hub for comprehensive research on various aspects of Gangetic dolphins, including their behaviour, survival mechanisms, and causes of mortality.

Ganges River Dolphins (Susu)

• Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica
• Discovery: 1801
• Habitat and Distribution: Found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
• Uniqueness:
  • Solely freshwater inhabitants.
  • Lack a crystalline eye lens, hindering vision and relying heavily on echolocation (emitting ultrasonic sounds) for navigation and hunting.
  • Stocky build with a brownish body.
  • Prefer turbulent waters with abundant fish.
  • Inhabit low-current zones for energy conservation.

Significance

• Indicators of river ecosystem health.
• Play a crucial role in maintaining healthy fish and crustacean populations.
• Declared the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.

Threats

• Habitat degradation due to pollution, construction activities, etc.
• Accidental entanglement in fishing nets (bycatch).
• Poaching.

Conservation Status

• Endangered (IUCN)
• Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Appendix I of CITES

Conservation Initiatives

• Project Dolphin: Employs technology to conserve dolphins and their habitat by focusing on pollution reduction and sustainable fishing practices.
• National Dolphin Day: Celebrated annually on October 5th to raise awareness about dolphin conservation.
• Vikram Shila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) established in Bihar.
• Conservation Action Plan for Dolphins launched by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2016.

Source: DTE