24-Oct-2020: Study predicts massive habitat decline by year 2050 due to climate change

A study carried out by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the western Himalayas with respect to the Himalayan brown bears.

The study predicts a massive decline of 73% of the Himalayan brown bear’s habitat by the year 2050 due to climate change. The elevation gradient in which the brown bear is distributed is most vulnerable to global warming as this elevation belt is getting warmer faster than other elevation zones of Himalayas. This predicted loss in habitat will result in loss of habitats from 13 Protected Areas (PAs), with eight of these predicted to become completely uninhabitable by the year 2050.

The study notes that apart from suitable habitats even the biological corridors for the species would be impacted which would negatively impact the genetic diversity of the species. Furthermore, the simulation study also predicts a significant qualitative decline in remaining habitats of the species within the protected areas of the landscape.

There is the need for adaptive spatial planning of the protected area network in the western Himalayas for conserving the Himalayan brown bears. This would involve mapping of suitable habitats outside the existing PAs and suitable areas should progressively be brought into the PA network.

The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), is a subspecies of the brown bear and is known from northern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, northern India, west China and Nepal. It is mainly found across remote parts of the western Himalayas. The Himalayan brown bear is one of the largest carnivores in the highlands of the Himalayas. These bears hibernate during the winter.

Given the vulnerability of animals to climate change, there need to be adaptive measures for even the vulnerable species.

25-Aug-2020: Experts from India – Bangladesh – Nepal and Myanmar come together for enhancing conservation of river Dolphins in the region paving way for regional cooperation.

In a webinar on “Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the ecosystem health of rivers and its dolphin population: Present status and future strategy for conservation in India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Nepal” organised by Inland Fisheries Society of India, ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, National Mission for Clean Ganga , Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF) and Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

 River Dolphins a unique species found mainly in rivers of Asia and South America are vanishing rapidly. Gangetic Dolphin, the national aquatic animal of India has been declared endangered by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This webinar was organised to discuss the future strategy to conserve and revive these Dolphins with regional cooperation.

The webinar started with a welcome address by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI who gave a brief about the aim and objectives of this webinar. He stated that the webinar would enhance  Dolphin Conservation in the South East Asian Regional Countries. Dr. J. K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), ICAR in his address emphasised that with less disturbance and interference Dolphins can thrive on their own and that is what we have seen during the lockdown. He said, “These animals do not realise boundaries and have tried to find habitat wherever possible. Hence, regional cooperation is very important in conserving them.” Dr. B. C. Chaudhury, Retd. Principal Scientist, Wildlife institute of India gave a historical overview the research done on Dolphins so far. Dr. M. Munawar of Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society, Canada conveyed his best wishes.

Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), shared his experiences on Dolphin Conservation linking its importance in rejuvenation of the Ganga. While working on rejuvenation of river Ganga, continuous efforts in the Namami Gange programme to bring Dolphin Conservation to national attention has resulted in the announcement of “Project Dolphin” by the Hon’ble Prime Ministry under MoEF. This project will be in-line with “Project Tiger” which has successfully helped in increasing tiger population. However, the most important thing to focus on now is community participation along with scientific interventions. Namami Gange has given importance to biodiversity and ecological improvement along with pollution abatement and projects have been taken up for improvement of fisheries with CIFRI and for biodiversity conservation with Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Under this framework, this is a first of its kind occasion where the fishery sector is leading the Dolphin Conservation discourse.

Prof. A. P. Sharma, Ex Director ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore highlighted the need to research on dolphin habitat restoration and Dr. Dilip Kumar, Former Vice Chancellor, ICAR-CIFE, spoke about the social aspects of fishermen’s life and Dolphins in rural India.

Fishery conservation efforts under Namami Gange through CIFRI would improve prey base in Dolphin habitat leading to enhanced Dolphin population. Livelihood improvement of fishermen to help them join conservation efforts. Coordinated approach needed for synergising transboundary efforts and to develop a regional program. Small habitats in North East Rivers need special study for local propagation or translocation. Dolphin education for students, community engagement and improving overall awareness. Latest under water acoustic methodology to be applied for Dolphin census. E-flow assessment and implementation from biodiversity point of view.

Sundarban delta is an unique ecological space where Gangetic as well as Irrawaddy Dolphin are present, spread over India as well as Bangladesh. The Conference gave a unique opportunity to share experience on the Dolphins. It was also supplemented by Myanmar and Chilika Lake authority in the context of  the Irrawaddy Dolphin. The Webinar was attended by more than 1000 participants across the world. Lectures on “Conservative measure of Irrawaddy Dolphin in Myanmar” by Dr. Hla Win, DDG- Fisheries- Retired, Myanmar, “Status of Dolphins in Nepalese Rivers” by Dr Madhav K. Shrestha, Professor, Aquaculture AFU (Retired), Nepal and “National Atlas and Dolphin action plan- Bangladesh” by Professor Md. A Aziz, Prof Benazir Ahmed, Senior expert from Bangladesh amongst other well-known global scholars were the highlights of the conference. The conference resolved to continue this regional and multi sectoral collaboration. The rich discussion would be very helpful in developing contours of  the ‘Project Dolphin’ in India.

7-Jan-2019: Rise in salinity threatens Gangetic river dolphin habitats

A five-year study conducted in the Sundarbans region has found that raising water salinity level is threatening the habitat of Gangetic river dolphins.

The survey was conducted in the lower stretch of river Hooghly, covering 97 km stretch of the western, central and eastern Sundarbans in India, intermittently between 2013 and 2016 in different seasons. Simultaneously, researchers also measured salinity level of the water. Based on interaction with local fishing communities, study area was demarcated for boat-based and land-based surveys.

Previous studies had recorded natural distribution of the Gangetic dolphin in the Sundarbans regions but no continuous surveys were done to assess population and habitat changes.

It was found “no sighting record for Gangetic dolphin in waterways wherever the salinity level crosses 10 parts per trillion (ppt)”. The researchers believe that rise in salinity in the eastern and central region of Sundarbans has affected the habitat of species. The increased salinity level is due to hydrological changes such as reduction in freshwater flow, reduced discharge from barrages, runoff from adjacent agricultural lands and river water abstraction for irrigation.

Rising salinity level seems to be conducive for marine cetaceans like Indo-Pacific hump-backed and Irrawaddy dolphins as these species can thrive in saline waters.

Other potential threat to the dolphin habitats are excessive fishing, use of vulnerable fishing gears, noise from motorized boats and lack of awareness among local communities. However, there is no data to assess impact of these factors. Only long-term monitoring can give some answers.

Gangetic dolphin is obligatory freshwater species and its range has declined owing to salinity and other ecological factors. Although the study has not concluded, we would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities as well as public about threats to this freshwater habitat as it has a direct implication on Gangetic river dolphin.

Gangetic river dolphins are found in the rivers systems of Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna and Karnaphuli- Sangu in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. It is the only surviving freshwater dolphin in India.

6-Mar-2017: Government launches survey on Gangetic dolphins

Government has launched the first ever across-the-river survey in the Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered Gangetic dolphin. The survey will create a baseline scientific data for the government to take suitable measures to improve quality of the river water.

The first leg of the census was launched on March 1 from Narora in Uttar Pradesh to Bijnor (covering distance of nearly 165 km) to establish the number of the national aquatic animal. Counting in the Allahabad to Varanasi stretch (close to 250 km in length) is expected to be launched this week.

The authority is conducting the survey through Wildlife Institute of India (WII), under the Namami Gange programme.

Gangetic dolphins, one of the four freshwater dolphins in the world, are disappearing from the river stretch in Narora to Kanpur due to pollution.

Apart from number of dolphins, number of gharials and turtles in the river will also be ascertained after summer sets in fully. All the surveys carried out in Ganga previously were conducted in bits and pieces or were rapid. This is for the first time a comprehensive and scientific study is being conducted.