(NP): Nepal’s river dolphins in danger

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Nepal’s river dolphins in danger

 

By Bhumika Ghimire

Published: August 03, 2009

Column: Nepali in America

 

West Lafayette, IN, United States, — The Ganges River dolphins in Nepal’s

Karnali River are at risk of extinction. According to the environmental blog

site EcoWorldly, only six dolphins remain in the Karnali River, and if

urgent conservation efforts are not made they may be lost forever.

 

These dolphins are threatened by excessive fishing, increased human activity

near the river, big dams and poaching. As the country is facing an acute

energy shortage, efforts are under way to tap Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers to

produce hydroelectricity. Last year Nepal’s Supreme Court cleared the way

for a hydroelectricity project in the Karnali River. Across the border in

India too, the river is being tapped for hydroelectricity.

 

These projects are encroaching on the dolphins’ habitat, while local

fishermen have greatly reduced their food supply. Excessive fishing has

reduced the number of small fish in the area, but the government is yet to

come up with long-term sustainable plans to preserve the dolphin habitat, as

well as to provide alternative income-generating opportunities to local

fishermen.

 

Poaching is also affecting the dolphin population in the Karnali River. The

dolphins are killed for oil and meat. Sometimes they are trapped in fishing

nets and killed accidentally.

 

There is very little awareness in the region and the country as a whole

about the dolphins, which adds to the problem. Local residents don’t see the

dolphins as a resource, with the potential to attract tourist revenue to the

area and elsewhere in the country.

 

Citizens are oblivious to the rapidly declining number of dolphins, and this

affects the way the government and agencies prioritize conservation efforts.

For instance, millions are spent every year to protect Nepal’s rhino

population, but the dolphins get next to nothing.

 

Efforts to save the Ganges River dolphins in Nepal would have to be matched

by efforts in India. When Nepal’s dolphins travel downstream to Indian

waters they are unable to come back because of large dams on their way; this

fragments the population and reduces breeding. These dolphins are in danger

in India too. An integrated conservation effort between India and Nepal is

the best way to save the dolphins.

 

Oil exploration in the Brahmaputra River system, pollution, and human

activity all pose threats to dolphins in India. According to the Environment

News Service, the estimated number of dolphins in the area is only around

300. Conservation agencies have launched an awareness campaign in the

surrounding area so that people will see the dolphins as a resource and take

part in conservation efforts.

 

Conservation efforts launched in India through the World Wildlife Fund and

local agencies, however, have no counterpart in Nepal. Dolphin conservation

and awareness efforts are virtually non-existent in the country. In schools

children are taught about Nepal’s bio-diversity; tigers, elephants and

rhinos are mentioned as endangered and in need of protection, but the

Karnali River dolphins are not covered. The public is not aware that there

are dolphins in Nepal, let alone asking the government to protect them.

 

In an interview with the Kathmandu Post, senior ecologist at the Department

of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Shiv Raj Bhatt said that the

government had no plans in place to protect the dolphins. He expressed

concern at the “nonchalant attitude” of the government toward the issue.

 

With only six dolphins remaining in Nepal, it is obvious that time is

running out for these lovely creatures. Unfortunately the government still

has not received the call for urgent action; it is up to the citizens now to

protect Nepal’s dolphins.

 

If you would like to contribute please visit the International Union for

Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at: http://www.iucn.org.

 

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