Assam: Endangered Ganges river dolphin sighted in Bolaighat, Lakhimpur after a decade

Ganges river dolphins have been spotted at Bolaighat in a shallow tributary river stream of the Charikoriya River, the lifeline of the Dhakuakhana Sub-division of the Lakhimpur district, in a mesmerising sight.

A group of wildlife enthusiasts from Dhakuakhana Sub-division, on Saturday went to the Bolaighat area to document the critically endangered vulture species. While walking through the river banks, one of the team members noticed the Ganges river dolphin performing acrobatics.

Speaking with India Today NE, Manas Pratim Dutta member of Pu-En-Fo Wild, an environmental activist group, said that, at around 11.30 am on October 14 he first encountered the dolphin along with Dhrubajyoti Chetia, Dharmeshwar Nath and Rajib Barua, journalist friend of Dutta.

Barua and Nath painstakingly captured the fascinating scene of the "Sisu" (Ganges river dolphin) on camera, 500 metres away from human habitation and believed it could be a juvenile dolphin.

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A few groups of dolphin live in the mainstream, where the Subansiri River meets the Charikoriya River, in search of food the juvenile got separated from the family and reached the shallow tributary of the Charikoriya River in the Bolaighat area said, Manas Pratim Dutta.

Dutta added saying on October 14 they submitted a memorandum to local ADC Kartik Kalita and MLA Naba Doley, regarding a ban on fishing from the Bolaighat area to Dhakuakhana College for the sake of the dolphins.

The Ganges river dolphin in scientific terms referred to as Platanista gangetica, due to its high threat in conservation status it has been declared as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Ganges river dolphin is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati and has been recognized by the Government of India as its National Aquatic Animal.