By Udbhav Bhargava
An observatory to allow visitors to see Gangetic Dolphins in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary would be established shortly. People could watch Dolphins in the river aquatic activities from an observatory tower to be constructed as part of the Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat Bridge in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The observatory on four storeys will be 40 feet high, with the bridge passing through its centre.
The observatory building will be transparent, with glass from all sides to ensure that the dolphins can be watched without disturbance. The observatory ‘s structural architecture is such that it supports eco-tourism. There would be no deleterious or negative impact on the ecology of the river, as the observation deck is being built on a bridge over the Ganga.
The Gangetic dolphin-Platanista gangetica Indus river dolphin-Platanista gangetica minor The Ganges river dolphin is found primarily in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in India , Bangladesh, and Nepal. The Indus river dolphin is now only present in the main Indus River canal, and in Punjab in the River Beas. The gangetic dolphin is both the national Aquatic animal of India and the National Mammal of Pakistan (Indus Dolphin). These dolphins breathe after rising to the surface and locate objects through echolocation. They prefer water depth greater than 5ft and maximum of 8fts. This range corresponds to the depth range, where they can feed on enough fish. They live in an area where little to no current exists which helps them to save energy. They can dive into deeper waters, if they feel threatened. The dolphins swim up to the edges from the no-current zone to hunt for fish and return.
Endangered
The population of the endangered Gangetic river dolphins was found in the Ganga and its two main tributaries, Gandak and Ghaghra, at almost 1,000 km length. The presence of 1,548 Gangetic dolphins in Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda rivers is a sign of a healthy river ecosystem according to a survey in 2019.
Facing various threats
These dolphins unintentionally get killed after being extricated in fishing nylon nets, and are killed by poachers for their flesh, fat and oil. Boats and Machines hamper their echolocation abilities. Lowering of water levels due to sandbars in river, reckless use of water in irrigation, multiple dam projects significantly lower the inhibitability.
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