By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune
New Delhi, 06 October (Asiantribune.com):
India has declared the dolphin as its national aquatic animal. The move is a part of the all-out effort to save the rare freshwater species from disappearing from the country’s aqua-map.

There are less than 2,000 dolphins left in India, prompting the World Conservation Union to declare it as an endangered species.

India has a national bird and national animal. But this is the first time an aquatic animal is given national status.

The Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told reporters here that the decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority held here with the prime minister in chair.

“Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphin as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga”, Ramesh said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had proposed naming dolphins as national aquatic animal at the meeting. Prime Minister accepted the suggestion.

By declaring dolphins as a national aquatic animal, the Government hopes not only to ensure the survival of the species which are endemic to river Ganga but also seek cleansing of the river.

Ramesh said just as the big cat is a symbol of ecosystem in forests, the presence of the river dolphin in a river system signifies a healthy aquatic life in freshwaters of rivers. ‘Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolizes greater bio diversity in the river system’.

Link - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/200...aquatic-animal