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India’s first Dolphin Observatory to be open in Bihar
India’s first Dolphin Observatory to be open in Bihar
Nature is incredible! It has so many beautiful things such as plants and animals which humans would love to see and observe. But the continuous cutting of trees and killings of animals has not only put the plants and animals in danger but the whole cycle of nature. It is also the responsibility of humans to preserve them and maintain their habitat. So, how can we save them and at the same time observe them without disturbing their habitat? Does making zoological parks are the only option?
Well No, Zoological parks do not provide the natural environment which animals long for. Besides, their conditions become worst in living in a cage. That’s why India’s government has come up with its first dolphin observatory to observe dolphins closely and to catch the sight of people.
The location of the observatory is Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar. People will be allowed to watch the dolphin activities from a tower that will be built as a part of Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge, in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The approximate number of dolphins in the sanctuary is 170.
The observatory will be a four-feet high with four-story and the bridge passing through its middle. It will be a transparent tower which will provide the people with a good view of dolphins without disturbing them. The structure of the observatory will promote eco-tourism. There will not be any bad effect on the ecological behavior of the Ganga river on which the bridge being built.
The main dolphin found in the Ganga river is the Ganga River dolphin. It also found in the tributaries of the Brahmaputra river. Dolphin was declared the National Aquatic animal of India in 2009, still, it comes under the list of the endangered animal list which means their population is decreasing and can become extinct.
According to a survey of 1982, the total number of dolphins was around 6500 across India which has been reduced to 3500 in 2019. In the list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also, these dolphins come under the endangered block. IUCN is an international organization that works for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
The safety and protection of these dolphins come under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. According to it, the hunting and killing of these dolphins are banned and invites the penal action on the violation.
Also, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fauna (CITES) prevents the smuggling of these dolphins under its Appendix 1.
State Government of Bihar is also planning to National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) to open in Patna on the banks of the river Ganga. So, it is a new and good initiative taken by the government of India to take care of the endangered animals and to make people aware of their rights and the beauty of nature.
