Project Dolphin
Agency overview
Formed2021
Parent departmentWildlife Institute of India
Websitehttps://riverdolphin.in/

Project Dolphin is an Indian government initiative to conserve both riverine and oceanic dolphin species launched in 2021.[1][2][3]

History

The project was announced on 15 August 2020 during the 74th independence day celebrations by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.[4] It is under the Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.[4][5] It is modelled on Project Tiger.[1] Demands were made for a Project Dolphin for India in 2019.[6] October 5th has also been designated as "National Dolphin Day" by the environment ministry.[7]

Activities and goals

A dolphin breeding centre for the Gangetic river dolphin is planned for the Bengal region, specifically the stretch of the Ganges river between Farakka and Gangasagar, already home to 650 dolphins.[8] India's dolphins are at risk of extinction due to a variety of factors, namely: strandings in canal systems, constructions of waterways, unchecked fishing activity using nylon nets, noise pollution from ships, amidsts other factors.[9]

Criticism

The project has been criticized by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for its slow pace of work.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Sharma, Harikishan (2020-09-05). "Project Dolphin: Why is it important to save a declining river species?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  2. ↑ Basu, Mohana (2020-08-15). "After Project Tiger and Project Elephant, India to have Project Dolphin, says PM Modi". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. ↑ Tandon, Aditi (2022-08-03). "Involvement of fishing communities, transboundary cooperation could help mitigate threats to the Ganges river dolphin". Mongabay-India. Retrieved 2023-03-13. In 2021, the government launched a conservation initiative known as Project Dolphin, which will involve conservation of dolphins and the aquatic habitat through use of modern technology specially in enumeration and anti-poaching activities. The project will engage the fishermen and other river/ocean dependent population and will strive for improving the livelihood of the local communities, according to the government.
  4. 1 2 "The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 74th Independence Day - Press Information Bureau". pib.gov.in. Prime Minister's Office - Government of India. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-13. 12. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Project Dolphin to conserve both river and oceanic Dolphins announced. ... One more work we want to promote and that is - Project Dolphin. We will focus on both types of dolphins living in the rivers and in the seas. This will also give a boost to Biodiversity and also create employment opportunities. This is also a center of attraction for tourism.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ↑ "About the Project – Project Dolphin". Project Dolphin (riverdolphin.in). Retrieved 2023-03-13. Project Dolphin is an effort to conserve the Ganges river dolphins and the riverine ecosystem. This was launched by the H'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi in the year 2020. The project is funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India. It involves a systematic status monitoring of the target species and their potential threats, in order to develop and implement a conservation action plan. It aims to address the existing conservation concerns and to empower the stake holders to participate in conservation of dolphins. Dolphin acts as an umbrella species, and its conservation will contribute to the wellbeing of associated habitat and biodiversity, including humans. ... What we have done so far? The Project Dolphin was launched in 2020, however, we, at the Wildlife Institute of India have been working on Development of Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges river dolphins through Our Species Conservation Programs, funded by the CAMPA, since 2016.
  6. ↑ "Explained: Why India needs a Project Dolphin - The Gangetic river dolphins were officially discovered in 1801 and are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)". The Indian Express. Explained Desk. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2023-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ↑ Perinchery, Aathira (31 March 2022). "Why India's New National Dolphin Day Is a Sham". The Wire Science. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  8. ↑ Chakraborti, Suman (2023-03-10). "On the cards, a dolphin breeding hub in Bengal". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  9. ↑ Joshi, Prajakta (2023-01-25). "Indie Journal | Will India lose its rare Dolphins in silence? Only four out of the 88 known species of dolphins are freshwater, and India is home to one of them". IndieJournal. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  10. ↑ Sharma, Harikishan (2022-03-16). "Project Dolphin: Minister pulls up officials over slow pace of work". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-03-13. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed his displeasure over the slow pace of the approval process for Project Dolphin at a meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) on Ganga on Tuesday, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, Shekhawat said that although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mentioned the project in many of his speeches, the ground situation has remained unchanged, with work yet to begin.
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