ICAR-CIFRI Marks National Dolphin Day with Riverfront Awareness Drive

Oct 2025 : The ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, commemorated ‘National Dolphin Day’ under the Namami Gange Programme on 5th October 2025 with vibrant awareness campaigns at Daspara Ghat and Sheoraphuli Ghat along the Hooghly River.

The event spotlighted the ecological importance of the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), India’s National Aquatic Animal and a sentinel of river health. This day serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the ecological role of the Gangetic dolphin as a bio-indicator of river health, reflecting the quality and flow of freshwater ecosystems.

Over 150 participants, including local fishermen, students, and social activists, joined the initiative aimed at fostering community-led conservation of riverine ecosystems. Dr. Basanta Kumar Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI and Principal Investigator of the NMCG Project, underscored the dolphin’s role as a bio-indicator and stated “The Gangetic dolphin’s sensitivity to water quality and flow makes it a vital gauge of the Ganga’s ecological integrity.”

India is home to over 30 marine mammal species, but the Ganges river dolphin, critically endangered and endemic to the Ganga-Brahmaputra system, faces mounting threats from pollution, damming, habitat loss, and climate change. Dr. Das urged river-dependent communities to take proactive steps in safeguarding these freshwater habitats.

ICAR-CIFRI’s outreach efforts have intensified in recent years. In 2024, the institute conducted 144 awareness campaigns, reaching 7,916 individuals. In 2025 alone, 64 programmes have already engaged over 10,000 people, focusing on dolphin conservation, rescue operations, and river ranching to restore ecological balance.

The event also highlighted findings from India’s first systematic National Dolphin Survey, released in March 2025 under Project Dolphin. The survey covering 28 rivers across eight states and spanning 8,507 km, estimated a total of 6,327 dolphins, including 6,324 Gangetic dolphins and 3 Indus dolphins. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest numbers, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.

Simultaneous observances were held at Barrackpore, Balagarh, Farakka (West Bengal), and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), involving over 250 fishermen and stakeholders. The day concluded with a collective pledge to protect freshwater ecosystems and ensure the peaceful coexistence of dolphins and river communities.

Team Maverick