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River Ganges' unseen tragedy: Dolphins trapped in troubled waters

Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti

October 20, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM

Environmental Health, One Health

Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti

  • Along the basins of the River Ganges, the closure of barrages paves the way for the entry of dolphins.

  • The dolphins get trapped in it and eventually die.

  • Their deaths may be due to factors such as:

  1. The rapid recession of water

  2. Heat stroke

  3. Human interference.

  • The Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India and the Department of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh conducted a rescue operation between 2013 and 2020.

  • The operation saved a total of 19 dolphins.

  • However, five of them died during transport.

  • The paper published in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management discussed salient points as follows:

  1. Ensuring a minimum of six feet of water depth in dolphin-trapped areas.

  2. Monitoring and timely reporting of such incidents

  3. Veterinary research to improve the quality of rescue operations

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