Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Center for Environment Education Engages Children to Save the Ganges River Dolphin

Children in Assam holding up signs and banners aimed at saving Ganges River dolphins.

It has been recently reported that the Center for Environment Education (CEE) has turned to school children in an effort to spread awareness about the highly endangered Ganges River dolphin through a "Dolphin Mela" being organized at the Vikas Bhawan auditorium in Etawah district. The Dolphin Mela, which is organized by the CEE North in association with the Society for Conservation of Nature and Social Forestry division of Etawah and as part of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests' ongoing Gangetic River Dolphin Conservation Education Program, will have participation of students and teachers from 22 schools located within the adjacency of Chambal River. According to District Forest Officer Manik Chandra Yadav, the event will consist of activities such as poster-making, environmental quiz, slogan-writing, and even watching a film focusing on awareness among the locals. The mela has been arranged to accentuate the need to conserve the Ganges River dolphin, which also resides in the Brahmaputra River as well as in the Ganges, Karnaphuli, and Meghna Rivers. It is also said that students will be taken to some well-known dolphin sites along the Chambal River. There, they will be taught on how to increase the aquatic animal's count. The goal of the mela is to sharpen students towards urging their elders to help protect the dolphin.
Ganges River dolphin

I'm extremely proud and touched by this news. This article clearly highlights why it is essential to recruit younger members of the society to become involved in the efforts to save and protect endangered species around the world. The Ganges River dolphin is one of India's most highly endangered species that has suffered tremendously from threats ranging from pollution to fishing. With an event like the Dolphin Mela underway, the animal looks like it is facing a bright future. This event, in particular, is taking place in the Chambal River region. I'm also surprised to see that a similar event has been taking place in a region around the Brahmaputra River. But I'm not sure if it is taking place in other regions where these dolphins are known to live. This is why I hope that people living in other regions across India that are also frequented by dolphins will also participate in the effort. I also firmly believe that what these students are doing should be taken as both an inspiration and initiative for other children to join the battle to help save endangered species in other parts of the world. The world needs more and more people to participate in this ongoing battle to protect and conserve the wildlife, and children are among the ideal candidates in order spread this message of awareness.

View article here

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