Yogi Adityanath Declares Gangetic Dolphin As UP's Aquatic Animal Amid Ongoing Census By WWF, Forest Dept

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh has officially designated the Gangetic Dolphin as the state's aquatic animal. CM Yogi underscored the importance of preserving the purity of ponds and rivers, where these dolphins are commonly found, including in rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra, Rapti, and Gerua.

"It is crucial for both tourists and local residents to avoid using plastic, as it poses a threat to our water and nature," stated CM Yogi. The estimated population of Gangetic dolphins in Uttar Pradesh is approximately 2,000.

In addition, the CM emphasised the significance of educating local residents on how to interact with wildlife. He proposed the training of individuals from villages connected to the Tiger Reserve as guides, with the goal of generating employment opportunities and fostering awareness within the community.

Teams from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Forest Department have recently been conducting a dolphin census with GPS assistance in Garh Ganga at Hapur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Discussing the ongoing dolphin census in Garh Ganga, DFO Sanjay Kumar Mall explained, "This campaign is named Meri Ganga Meri Dolphin 2023. Under this initiative, dolphin counting is taking place along the Ganga river from near Muzaffarpur Barrage to the entire Narora Barrage."

The counting involves joint efforts by both WWF and Forest Department teams. The method includes two teams, each traveling at a speed of 10 kilometres per hour, with a 10-minute gap between them. The teams monitor the dolphins during this interval, noting their GPS locations.

"This process helps determine whether the same dolphin is observed after the 10-minute interval or if it is a different one, enabling an accurate count," Mall elaborated.

DFO Sanjay Kumar further shared historical data, stating that in 2015, 22 dolphins were counted, followed by 30 in 2016, 32 in 2017, 33 in 2018, 35 in 2019, and 41 in 2020, NDTV reported.