Following a rescue operation lasting approximately 24 hours, officials from the South Kheri forest, WWF-India, WTI, Turtle Services Alliance (TSA), and the irrigation department managed to successfully relocate a group of nearly a dozen dolphins, including their calves, back to the Ghaghara river, as stated by officials on Sunday. The operation concluded late Saturday evening, according to reports.
Gangetic dolphins, inhabitants of the Ghaghara river, were stranded in the Sharda canal roughly 4 km south of the Sharda barrage on Thursday. These dolphins are classified as a schedule 1 aquatic species under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act of 2022, affording them protected status.
Sanjay Biswal, Division Forest Officer (DFO) of the South Kheri Forest Division, along with WWF project director Dabir Hasan, WII expert Vipul Maurya, WTI expert Shruti Singh, and TSA scientist Dr. Shailendra Singh, camped at the site until all the dolphins were safely returned to the Ghaghara river.
On Friday, there were reports of a group of approximately ten Gangetic dolphins being observed stranded in the shallow waters of Sharda canal. These dolphins were unable to swim to safety due to the insufficient water level. Biswal further stated that out of these dolphins, four to five were stranded in waters that were 2.5 to 3 feet deep in the canal. Their situation was deemed critical as they had their calves with them and the temperature was soaring high.
Biswal asserted that during the pre-monsoon maintenance operations at the Sharda barrage, the flow of water in the Sharda river was controlled, resulting in the opening of the gates. Consequently, the Sharda waters were discharged, leading to the formation of a dry bed in the Sharda canal that originates from it. In order to ensure the safety of the dolphins, Biswal further mentioned that the irrigation department was urged to release water into the canal.
Biswal stated that on Saturday evening, the irrigation department initiated the release of water into the canal. As a result, the dolphins that were stranded were able to return to the Ghaghara river. He further emphasized that every dolphin in the canal successfully made its way back to safety in the Ghaghara river.
Dr. Shailendra Singh, an expert in rescuing turtles and dolphins in India, belonging to the Turtle Services Alliance (TSA), emphasized the importance of facilitating the dolphins’ return to Ghaghara by raising the water levels. However, he acknowledged that the second task of relocating the dolphins to a secure location through capture was not only a formidable challenge but also have significant risks, given the high number of dolphins involved.
