Prayagraj: In a renewed push to safeguard the endangered Gangetic dolphin, the forest department in Prayagraj has formed a dedicated volunteer network titled “Dolphin Friends” to monitor the movement of the aquatic mammal and spread awareness among river-dependent communities.“Fishermen and boatmen are being actively involved for their close familiarity with the river and dolphin behaviour which makes them key stakeholders,” said divisional forest officer Arvind Kumar Yadav.This will be a “win-win” model for all, and while the initiative is currently voluntary, a provision for modest remuneration may be considered in the future for protecting this mammal, he added.Support from research scholars and the teaching community is also being explored to strengthen the scientific and outreach aspects of the programme, said the official.Highlighting the importance of seasonal protection, the DFO said special monitoring will be intensified during the monsoon, which is the breeding season for dolphins. Regular monitoring drives are already being conducted, with teams deployed in key locations and required to submit periodic reports.Officials said as per a recent report of WWF, the dolphin population in the Prayagraj stretch of the Ganga has risen to 139, indicating improving water quality and ecological health. A recent survey by the Wildlife Institute of India estimates 5,689 dolphins in the Ganga and 635 in the Brahmaputra river systems, a sharp rise from 3,275 recorded in 2021.Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 2,397 dolphins, underscoring its critical role in conservation.Following these findings, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has directed the preparation of a targeted action plan, which is now under implementation.Key dolphin habitats have been identified across stretches in Prayagraj, Patna and Fatehpur, with heightened surveillance in local hotspots such as Phaphamau, Chhatnag, and Meja.Aligned with Project Dolphin under the Namami Gange Programme, the initiative is expected to expand further. Experts emphasise that dolphins thrive only in clean and undisturbed water.Noted scientist and Padma Shri awardee Ajay Kumar Sonkar noted that the increasing dolphin numbers in the Prayagraj-Fatehpur stretch reflect improved environmental conditions and a healthier aquatic ecosystem.
