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Save our dolphins
DEC 28 - Whales and Dolphins are more closely related to human being than fish. Like us, they are mammals; in other words, they breathe air, have warm blood and suckle their young. The main difference is that we live on the land and they live in the water. Whales are so perfectly adapted to an aquatic life that they have lost their back legs, their front legs have turned into flippers and they almost never come ashore. Many Whales are enormous - some are very big and heavy. Dolphins are much smaller most are about the size as an adult human being.
Presently, 78 species of whales have been identified. These include all the animals in a group which scientists call the “Cetaceans”, but which most people call simply as Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. They are having variety of shapes and colors, and they all have different habits. Generally, Whales are the “big ones”, usually longer then 4 m. and Dolphins are the “little ones”.
A dolphin can be easily trained and is supposed to have good memory. It can observe other animals and learn to mimic their behavior in a short space of time. They are swift swimmers. Dolphins can be found in most oceans, but not usually in the cold waters. Still there are river dolphins, which are also found in Nepal especially in few major rivers.
In India, there are several legends about the Ganges River Dolphin or Susu, in Indian literature. In the legend about the origin of the Ganges narrated in the Mahabharat, the dolphin’s reference has appeared. When the river Ganges came down from heaven to earth, “a great procession began to wind through the land of India. In front was Bhagiratha in his robes doing penance, and after him came the river with her myriad fishes, frogs, turtles and leaping dolphins all creatures that live in the rushing mightily stream.”
The river dolphin, Platanista gangetica found in South Asia is a fresh water Dolphin. It is distributed in the Koshi, Karnali, Narayani, Ganges, Brahmputra, Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems from the foot of our Himalayas to the limits of the tidal one in Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The estimated population of the river Dolphins in its entire distribution range is about 4000- 5000 only.
There are threats to the river Dolphins that are found in this region. Dolphins are killed to get the oil and flesh. Fishermen also believe that use of Dolphin oil as a liniment for treating muscular and rheumatic pain. Some people also eat its meat. The next problem identified is the habitat degradation due to pollution and effluent discharge by human activities. Similarly, they have also come under the threat of various pesticides and organ chlorines used by farmers in crop cultivation.
In Nepal, dolphin is under Schedule I of the protected list of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973. Effectiveness of Legal and Policy measures has to be concretized for the protection of this species. Under CITES, all cetaceans not listed in Appendix-I are automatically listed in Appendix -II. Since 1986, when International Whale Commission moratorium on commercial whaling came into effect, CITES has included in Appendix -I all species of whales protected under the moratorium. In the words, all of the commercially important whales were placed in Appendix -I regardless of whether they met the biological criteria under CITES. This decision was to ensure consistency between the two conventions, as required in CITES Resolution Conf. 2.9, which recommends unequivocally that CITES parties should not allow commercial trade in any Whale species for stock protected from commercial whaling by the IWC.
In Nepal, human populations and rapid economic development threaten the survival of cetaceans. South Asia provides habitat for perhaps the greatest number of cetacean species at risk. In the care of dolphin of Nepal, further research is considered a low priority, and the immediate challenge is to eliminate known threats to the survival of the species in its natural habitat.
There is a greater need for creating mass awareness on dolphin conservation among the local people. The adverse impact of chemical fertilizers not only on the Dolphins but also on fishes of the river and the overall wealth of the river ecosystem needs to be highlighted. Extensive and intensive fishing should be discouraged. Subsistence fishing with use of dolphin- friendliness may be allowed. Similarly, the use of dolphin oil as fish bait must be banned. Scientific study to monitor the dolphin population in our major river at regular intervals should be undertaken.
Dolphins have declined in abundance and in the extent of their range. These cetaceans must compete with humans for shrinking water resources. Large-scale engineering projects that give people hope for economic development and relief from flood and famine pose dire threats to river cetaceans and other aquatic wildlife. Freshwater cetaceans are also threatened by the enormous pollutant load carried in major rivers and by destructive fishing activities, which result in high morality from by catch and reduced availability of prey. These animals are perhaps more vulnerable to these threats, in comparison to marine cetaceans, because their habitat requirements often place them in areas where human activities are most intense. His Majesty’s Government should bring an effective policy to conserve Dolphin in our rivers and declare those rivers as Dolphin reserve under the law. Finally, awareness program to conserve this endangered species need to be operated for the conservation of Dolphin in Nepal with commitment similar to Rhino Conservation Awareness Program.
Email: raviaryal@wlink.com.npPosted on: 2003-12-29 06:16
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