Dolphins under threat at Harike Wetland(India)

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Dolphins under threat at Harike

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 6

As poachers have made inroads at the Harike Sanctuary, there is real threat to

the Indus dolphins, the sighting of which in that area about two years ago had

added to the importance of the sanctuary at the international level.

When a team of senior officials of the wildlife and some civilians visited the

Harike wetland a few days ago, they found several nylon nets cast far and wide

in the prohibited area of the sanctuary. “Fishing inside about 86 square km

area of the sanctuary is not allowed without the written permission of the

wildlife authorities concerned. No one can even enter the area where nets were

found laid in the sanctuary,†said an official.Nets were reportedly burnt

after removing from the sanctuary area.

“If the poachers can dare to enter the prohibited areas, they could also lay

their hands on the fresh water Indus river dolphins, which have chosen that area

of the sanctuary as their habitat,†said a bird watcher. Dolphins are very

friendly to human beings. However, greedy people also kill them to get oil from

their flesh. The oil is used for some medicinal purpose.

According to sources, the police force, which was deployed there to guard

against poachers, have been withdrawn from the wetland area. “The police used

to patrol the area a few years ago but it is no more so,†sources said. The

fresh river dolphins are on the red list of threatened species world over. Some

international bodies give crore of rupees for their conservation.

Even a wildlife inspector Ajit Singh, who was honoured by the state government

and International Wildlife Trust for showing exemplary courage against the

poachers a few years ago, was transferred from Harike to Abohar recently.

Poachers had fired at Ajit Singh grievously hurting him a few years ago. His one

arm, which had suffered bullet injuries, had become dysfunctional. “Besides

the illegal entry of the poachers, the other bad news is a transfer of Ajit

Singh. Poachers would be further emboldened with this development,†said the

bird watcher.

Another disappointing factor is that the contract has been given to catch the

fish from the Beas river, upstream sanctuary. Sources said the contract to catch

the fish in adjoining area of the sanctuary had been given for a few lakhs of

rupees by the Fisheries Department. Dolphins also swim to upstream area in the

Beas river.

“If any of the dolphin is trapped in the net cast by the contractors and hurt

in the process, it would be most sad development,†said a wildlife fan. The

union government has declared the river water dolphin as national aquatic

animal.

Interestingly, the Wildlife Department has prepared a bio-diversity plan for the

Beas river to improve the habitat for wildlife in it, on other hand contract had

been given to catch the fish. Sources said Sanghera fish that is found in the

Beas river fetched a price of Rs 600 per kg in winter season.

Wildlife fans have appealed to the Chief Minister to take steps immediately to

secure the dolphins and to allocated some newly trained jawans at Jahan Khelan

for the security services in the sanctuary area. They said earlier, Badal had

also done a lot for the sanctuary and had got the thousands tones of weeds

removed from it with the help of the Army.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091207/punjab.htm#9

 

 

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

 

 

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