GANGETIC DOLPHIN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a fisherman in Odisha's Balasore district made a noteworthy discovery when he captured a rare and endangered Gangetic dolphin in the Jalaka river.

Gangetic Dolphin

• About: The Gangetic Dolphin, is a freshwater species and among the rare river dolphins globally.
• Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica.
• Also known as: “SUSU” or Sisu.
• Distribution: It resides in the river systems of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu, spanning Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Other Name: Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, or South Asian River Dolphin.
• Honour: India's National Aquatic Animal.
• Conservation Status

oIUCN: Endangered

oWildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule-I 

oCITES: Appendix I