2 Gangetic river dolphins killed in Kulsi, Brahmaputra

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2 Gangetic river dolphins killed in Kulsi, Brahmaputra

From our Correspondent

CHHAYGAON, June 3: In a significant development related to

environment, two Gangetic river dolphins (Platanista gangetica) — a

critically endangered freshwater species — were poached by fishermen

in the Brahmaputra and Kulsi rivers, despite awareness drives by

NGOs for conservation of the species.

According to Man & Wild — an environmental group of North-east India–

a big Gangetic river dolphin had been poached by the fishermen in

the Brahmaputra near Faturi village under Palasbari Revenue Circle

and the NGO has confirmed that the oil of the endangered aquatic

mammal had been extracted from its flesh by some fishermen of Faturi

village. The badly smelt oil values at Rs 200 per kg in black market

and is used for catching a catfish like fish called " Naariah fish "

found in the Brahmaputra river, stated the NGO.

According to the NGO sources, over 7-8 Gangetic river dolphins have

been spotted in a water whirl at the Brahmaputra adjacent to the

land spur No. 1 at Faturi village and it is believed that the river

dolphin could be entangled by mono-filament gilnets (gilnet is a

particular net) at the circular wheel of the water near the land

spur No. 1 by the Faturi-based fishermen. A one-month old calf has

also been recorded in the colony of the dolphin herd near the land

spur No.1, it said.

The NGO has alleged that hundreds of fishermen have been fishing

using mono-filament fibre nets in the Brahmaputra and dolphins get

entangled in these nets. " The Gangetic river dolphins do not use its

smaller eyes to detect object ahead of it, but it uses ultrasonic

wave to detect object. They emit ultrasonic waves to detect object

ahead of it (called eco-location technique), but the ultrasonic wave

does not get reflected by gilnets made of mono-filament yarn because

of which dolphins fail to detect gilnets, " the NGO said.

Man & Wild has requested the government to ban the sale of gilnets

for the protection of the rare Gangetic dolphins and urged to ban

sale of catfish (Naariah fish) which is caught by dolphin oil. The

NGO has also urged to nab the fishermen and it will extend its

helping hand in apprehending the poachers.

In another incident, official sources said that a Gangetic river

dolphin had been poached last fortnight in Kulsi river and forest

officials have managed to detect the remains of the dead dolphin. It

may be mentioned here that several NGOs have been working in

Gangetic river dolphins project in Kulsi river and in the

Brahmaputra and they are trumpeting empty drums without getting any

short of positive results.

According to the NGO, the Gangetic river dolphin in Kulsi river

would be extinct in the next few years and those in the Brahmaputra

are also facing extinction. The NGO has felt the need for immediate

rescue of the endangered species and launching of awareness drive in

a more scientific manner.

The NGO has also revealed that the prey-base of the Gangetic dolphin

is depleting fast due to use of match-size (nets having match-size

or small openings) nets. The match size nets kill the figerlings

(speed of big fish) at its early stage and the population of big

fishes — which is the prey-base of the dolphins — is showing

reduction year after year. The Barali fish (a catfish species) is

now almost nonexistent in river, which is one of the favourite food

of dolphin, sources added.

" The Assam government has clamped a ban on catching of fish by match

size nets during this monsoon in a bid to increase the population of

big fishes, but the ban has not been materialised due to poor

enforcement of law or lack of vigil by all concerned departments and

thus fingerlings of fishes have been killed by the match-size nets, "

the NGO said.