Dolphins under threat at Harike ( Punjab)

[Sakobav]

Fresh water dolphins one of the protected fish nearing extinction were recently sighted in Harike ( where Sutlej and Beas converge) now per this report they are at mercy of poachers. Didnt know about this brave warden who got shot and was injured seriously when he accosted poachers.. It also alludes to use of army and local police protecting the sanctuary and its maintenance such as weeding. Now weeding etc could also be taken up by College volunteers or NCC are there any such efforts afoot in India? Training and educating youngsters will have rich dividends and stake in wild life in long run..

Does any one know more about this..?

Clipped from Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091207/punjab.htm#2

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Dolphins under threat at Harike
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 6
As poachers have made inroads at the Harike Sanctuary, there is real threat to the Indus dolphins, the sighting of which in that area about two years ago had added to the importance of the sanctuary at the international level.

When a team of senior officials of the wildlife and some civilians visited the Harike wetland a few days ago, they found several nylon nets cast far and wide in the prohibited area of the sanctuary. “Fishing inside about 86 square km area of the sanctuary is not allowed without the written permission of the wildlife authorities concerned. No one can even enter the area where nets were found laid in the sanctuary,” said an official.Nets were reportedly burnt after removing from the sanctuary area.

“If the poachers can dare to enter the prohibited areas, they could also lay their hands on the fresh water Indus river dolphins, which have chosen that area of the sanctuary as their habitat,” said a bird watcher. Dolphins are very friendly to human beings. However, greedy people also kill them to get oil from their flesh. The oil is used for some medicinal purpose.

According to sources, the police force, which was deployed there to guard against poachers, have been withdrawn from the wetland area. “The police used to patrol the area a few years ago but it is no more so,” sources said. The fresh river dolphins are on the red list of threatened species world over. Some international bodies give crore of rupees for their conservation.

Even a wildlife inspector Ajit Singh, who was honoured by the state government and International Wildlife Trust for showing exemplary courage against the poachers a few years ago, was transferred from Harike to Abohar recently. Poachers had fired at Ajit Singh grievously hurting him a few years ago. His one arm, which had suffered bullet injuries, had become dysfunctional. “Besides the illegal entry of the poachers, the other bad news is a transfer of Ajit Singh. Poachers would be further emboldened with this development,” said the bird watcher.

Another disappointing factor is that the contract has been given to catch the fish from the Beas river, upstream sanctuary. Sources said the contract to catch the fish in adjoining area of the sanctuary had been given for a few lakhs of rupees by the Fisheries Department. Dolphins also swim to upstream area in the Beas river.

“If any of the dolphin is trapped in the net cast by the contractors and hurt in the process, it would be most sad development,” said a wildlife fan. The union government has declared the river water dolphin as national aquatic animal.

Interestingly, the Wildlife Department has prepared a bio-diversity plan for the Beas river to improve the habitat for wildlife in it, on other hand contract had been given to catch the fish. Sources said Sanghera fish that is found in the Beas river fetched a price of Rs 600 per kg in winter season.

Wildlife fans have appealed to the Chief Minister to take steps immediately to secure the dolphins and to allocated some newly trained jawans at Jahan Khelan for the security services in the sanctuary area. They said earlier, Badal had also done a lot for the sanctuary and had got the thousands tones of weeds removed from it with the help of the Army.

[Vikram]

I hope and wish that these islands of bio-diversity will not vanish.I am sure many of us will be happy to support the conservation efforts.Does anyone have an idea if these dolphins can be captive bred? Thanks.

Best-
Vikram