Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), After an almost 24-hour long rescue operation, South Kheri forest officials, WWF-India, WTI and Irrigation Department of Turtle Services Alliance (TSA) successfully rescued a group of about a dozen dolphins, including their calves. Back on the Ghaghra River, officials said on Sunday.
He said that the operation was completed late Saturday evening.
The Gangetic dolphins, which are found in the Ghaghra river, were stranded in the Sharda Canal, about 4 km south of the Sharda Barrage, on Thursday.
The Ganges dolphin is classified as a Schedule 1 aquatic animal in the Will of Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, and finds place under protected wildlife species.Division Forest Officer (DFO), South Kheri Forest Division, Sanjay Biswal along with WWF Project Director Dabir Hasan, WII Expert Vipu Maurya, WTI Expert Shruti Singh and TSA Scientist Dr Shailendra Singh camped at the spot until the dolphin was successfully rescued. . Ghaghra River.
"Reports were received on Friday that a group of about ten Gangetic dolphins were seen stranded in the shallow waters of the Sharda Canal and they were unable to swim safely due to inadequate water level," Biswal said.
"Four to five of these dolphins were stranded in 2.5 to 3 feet deep water in the canal and their condition was said to be critical due to the presence of their calves along with them and the high summer temperatures," he said.
Biswal said that as part of the pre-monsoon maintenance work on Sharda Barrage, the flow of Sharda was controlled and the gates were opened, due to which the water of Sharda flowed and the bed of Sharda canal originating from it became dry.
He said the irrigation department was requested to release water in the canal until the dolphins were rescued.Biswal said the irrigation department released water into the canal on Saturday evening, following which the trapped dolphin found its way back to the Ghaghra river.
“We ensured that all the dolphins in the canal swam safely back to the Ghaghra river,” he said.
“Our primary focus was to facilitate the dolphins to swim back into the Ghaghra by raising the water level,” said Dr Shailendra Singh of the Turtle Services Alliance (TSA), who has expertise in rescuing turtles and dolphins in India.
“The second task of capturing the dolphins and relocating them to a safe place was not only challenging but also very risky because their numbers were very high,” he said.
“It is easy to catch one or two dolphins and rehabilitate them in a safe place, but there were at least 10 dolphins with calves, so ensuring water supply to the canal was the best possible option,” he said."
He said that the operation was completed late Saturday evening.
The Gangetic dolphins, which are found in the Ghaghra river, were stranded in the Sharda Canal, about 4 km south of the Sharda Barrage, on Thursday.
The Ganges dolphin is classified as a Schedule 1 aquatic animal in the Will of Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, and finds place under protected wildlife species.Division Forest Officer (DFO), South Kheri Forest Division, Sanjay Biswal along with WWF Project Director Dabir Hasan, WII Expert Vipu Maurya, WTI Expert Shruti Singh and TSA Scientist Dr Shailendra Singh camped at the spot until the dolphin was successfully rescued. . Ghaghra River.
"Reports were received on Friday that a group of about ten Gangetic dolphins were seen stranded in the shallow waters of the Sharda Canal and they were unable to swim safely due to inadequate water level," Biswal said.
"Four to five of these dolphins were stranded in 2.5 to 3 feet deep water in the canal and their condition was said to be critical due to the presence of their calves along with them and the high summer temperatures," he said.
Biswal said that as part of the pre-monsoon maintenance work on Sharda Barrage, the flow of Sharda was controlled and the gates were opened, due to which the water of Sharda flowed and the bed of Sharda canal originating from it became dry.
He said the irrigation department was requested to release water in the canal until the dolphins were rescued.Biswal said the irrigation department released water into the canal on Saturday evening, following which the trapped dolphin found its way back to the Ghaghra river.
“We ensured that all the dolphins in the canal swam safely back to the Ghaghra river,” he said.
“Our primary focus was to facilitate the dolphins to swim back into the Ghaghra by raising the water level,” said Dr Shailendra Singh of the Turtle Services Alliance (TSA), who has expertise in rescuing turtles and dolphins in India.
“The second task of capturing the dolphins and relocating them to a safe place was not only challenging but also very risky because their numbers were very high,” he said.
“It is easy to catch one or two dolphins and rehabilitate them in a safe place, but there were at least 10 dolphins with calves, so ensuring water supply to the canal was the best possible option,” he said."
