Destination of the week! -
UTTAR PRADESH’S NARORA: TO SEE ENDANGERED RIVER DOLPHINS
Narora is a riverside village in Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh. It is just a sleepy little village with north much to write home about and really no reason to visit except it has covered itself in glory for saving the endangered River dolphin. Infact this is the only area along the Ganges river where the dolphin population has increased. The Gangetic River dolphin (Platanista Gangetica) was declared the National Aquatic Animal in October 2009 as it was feared that it would soon be lost to posterity. Found mainly in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River systems this friendly mammal has a low reproductive rate and breeds only in the wild. Hence the only way to save it was to protect it and help its numbers grow.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) focused attention on its reducing numbers and worked hard for its survival. Today the fishermen and people who had earlier killed this dolphin, for its body fat, are helping in protecting these playful creatures. The oil of these mammals is believed to have pain relieving qualities and earlier their meat was also used as bait in fishing. But all this has changed.
WWF came to Narora to study these dolphins and met with resistance from the villagers who killed the dolphins for oil and bait. Today villagers are supporting him and protecting these mammals, who can be seen frolicking in the waters. How did this change come about. It took a lot of convincing and people like Radhysham became the catalytic agents. Now Radheyshyam has a unique bond with these dolphins whom he calls “Dullu Mausi” (Aunt Dolphin). He swears he knows each of the dolphins along the 86km stretch between Narora and Brijghat (east of Delhi) by face and claims he can recognize each one as well as their off-springs. So when you visit Narora contact him to really have a wonderful experience as he will lovingly introduce you to his “Dullu Mausi”.
The Karnwas stretch of the Ganges is a favorite habitat of these dolphins. With nature lovers coming to see these mammals it is hoped that tourism will bring prosperity to the area. Infact the locals are already getting a taste of this.
These dolphins have a flexible body and weigh upto 150 kg. They are generally blind and emit ultrasonic sounds to catch their prey. They are stocky looking with a long beak containing large visible teeth. Being dark grey in colour the females are larger then the males. These playful creatures are a joy to behold Sadhus and pundits who frequent the banks of the Ganges have many stories to tell about the Ganges and the dolphins and these have been handed down over the years. Now it is heartening to see the local fishermen, sadhus as well as farmers all cooperating to save “Dullu Mansi” from extinction.