The Jharkhand Forest Department is working on a new proposal to create a dolphin sanctuary along a stretch of the Ganga River in Sahibganj district. The goal is to protect the national aquatic animal, the dolphin, and boost eco-tourism in the region.
A team from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is expected to visit Sahibganj by the end of January or early February to assess the dolphins' habitat.
Dolphins, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, live along an 80-km stretch of the Ganga in Sahibganj. The proposed sanctuary will likely cover about 40 km, where most of the dolphins are found, according to Prabal Garg, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sahibganj.
There has long been a demand for a dolphin sanctuary in this area, which connects the borders of Bihar and West Bengal. The sanctuary is planned to be developed similar to the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar.
A proposal for the sanctuary was first submitted to the state government about four to five years ago. However, it was delayed due to concerns from various groups, including the Inland Waterways Authority of India, regarding the regulation of river activities within the sanctuary.
To address these concerns, the department has decided to revise the proposal, excluding the main shipping channel from the sanctuary.
The Ganga’s 1,390-km stretch from Varanasi to Haldia, which passes through Sahibganj, is a national waterway. Garg explained that dolphins prefer shallow waters and are rarely found in deep shipping channels.
Therefore, the sanctuary will focus on side channels and backwater areas, leaving the main channel open for shipping.
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A 2023 survey by the Wildlife Institute of India estimated around 120 dolphins living in the Ganga stretch in Jharkhand. Current estimates suggest the number is between 120 and 140, but officials believe the population could be closer to 150.
The WII team’s visit will provide important data to finalise the proposal. Once the sanctuary is established, the forest department plans to promote eco-tourism in the area.
Former state wildlife board member D.S. Srivastava raised concerns over the delay in setting up the sanctuary, warning that it could threaten the dolphin population. He recalled that in 2021, two dolphins were found at the home of a suspected poacher in Sahibganj.
"The sanctuary will help conserve aquatic species and reduce illegal fishing," Srivastava added.
In addition to the sanctuary, the state forest department had proposed a 'dolphin safari' in two areas of the Ganga River in Sahibganj, namely Singhidalan in Rajmahal and Ojhatoli in Sahibganj. However, the Centre has yet to approve this proposal.
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