GANGETIC DOLPHIN
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Context: According to Uttar Pradesh Government, Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga river with improvement in the quality of its water through the Namami Gange programme.
Details:
- The Gangetic Dolphin is a fresh-water species, and one of the few river dolphins found in the world.
- A long thin snout, rounded belly, stocky body and large flippers are characteristics of the Ganges River dolphin.
- It feeds majorly on fishes and is are usually found in counter current systems of the main river channel.
- Its eyes lack lens, and as a result, this species is also referred to as the "blind dolphin".
- They have a highly developed bio sonar system that facilitates them to hunt for fish even in murky waters.
- Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30-120 seconds. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the 'Susu'.
- It inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
- Common Names: Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, South Asian River Dolphin
- Scientific name: Platanista gangetica
- The Gangetic Dolphin has been recognized as India's National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
Conservation status:
- The population of the Ganges dolphin is estimated to be a few hundred.
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- It is placed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act
- It is listed on CITES Appendix I, which lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants