India’s first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) inaugurated in Patna, Bihar | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    India’s first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) inaugurated in Patna, Bihar

    Posted 05 Mar 2024

    Updated 27 Mar 2024

    2 min read

    • NDRC, first of its kind in Asia, will serve as a gathering point for scientists and researchers dedicated to the study of Gangetic Dolphins. 
      • It would boost conservation efforts for river dolphins. 

     

    • About Gangetic Dolphin 
      • It is India’s National aquatic animal. 
      • One of freshwater dolphin species in the world.
      • Distribution: Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
      • Protection Status:
        • IUCN: Endangered
        • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I 
        • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I 
      • Key Features
        • Locally known as susu, which refers to the noise the dolphin is said to make when it breathes
        • They are blind. Hunt with the help of Echolocation.
          • Emit ultrasonic sound, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. 
        • Frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together.
        • Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.

     

    Initiative Taken for Conservation

    • Project Dolphin (2021) 
    • Habitat has been notified as Protected Areas, such as Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar.
    • Declaration of National Dolphin day (5th October)
    • A comprehensive action plan (2022-2047) has been developed to ensure well-being of the river dolphin and aquatic habitats.
    • Tags :
    • CITES
    • National Dolphin Research Centre
    • Gangetic Dolphin
    • National Acquatic Animal
    • Echolocation
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