Threats To The National Aquatic Animal Of India
Major sources of threat that the Gangetic dolphin faces are:
(a) Conflict between Humans & Dolphin
- Humans tend to poach & kill the Gangetic Dolphin on purpose for procuring their oil & meat that they use as a liniment, aphrodisiac & bait for catfish.
- Several fishing communities reside in the riverine areas, which attracts dolphins & fishermen. To reduce competition, Often, it is seen as to how the fishermen kill the dolphins, in order to reduce competition. This severely affects the population of the river dolphin.
- Many a times, it is also seen that the Gangetic Dolphins are killed by accident. What actually happens is that since they prefer to live in the same areas which are primary fishing grounds, they end up getting trapped in fishing gears & nets laid out by fishermen.
(b) Habitat Degradation
- When dams are constructed & barrages are built for irrigation & generating hydroelectric power; it is seen how this prevents river dolphins from migrating into other places which fragments their population. This in turn, lowers their the gene & eventually leads to a loss of genetic diversity.
- Water is drawn out from the river, excessively for irrigation which decreases the water levels in which the river dolphins’ reside. Hence, threatening their habitat in the Ganges.
- The Ganges & Brahmaputra regions, in the recent years witnesses a lot of heavy river traffic. This leads to noise pollution, restricts the Ganges dolphin’s habitat. As this eventually, depletes their prey base; the Gangetic river dolphins change their feeding behaviour.
- The river bed rises due to increased sedimentation caused by the loss of vegetation cover in the catchment area & floodplains. Due to this, the river biota, such as fish is reduced on which river dolphins’ prey.
National Aquatic Animal of India | Ganges River Dolphin
The National Aquatic Animal of India is the Ganges River Dolphin. As per Indian Mythology, the Dolphin is considered the Vehicle of Goddess Ganga. It is found only in freshwater. Not only is it, one of the most intelligent species, but it is also at the Top of the Aquatic Food Chain. The Ganges River Dolphin is one of the National Symbols of India. They reside in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna & Karnaphuli – Sangu river systems of Nepal, India & Bangladesh. As its name goes, the Ganges Dolphin is endemic to the River Ganga.
Table of Content
- What Is An Aquatic Animal?
- Ganges River Dolphin
- National Aquatic Animal Of India
- Facts About India’s National Aquatic Animal
- Features Of The National Aquatic Animal Of India
- Characteristics Of The Ganges River Dolphin
- Threats To The National Aquatic Animal Of India
- Conservation Of The National Aquatic Animals of India
- Role Of The National Aquatic Animal Of India
- Historical Significance
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