Can Declaring a River as a Dolphin Sanctuary Help Save Bangladesh's River Dolphins?

A dead Ganges river dolphin found in the Hathazari area.

The Halda River in Bangladesh is known for being a breeding ground for Indian carps in the country. The fish are a valuable source of food to residents living in and around the river. But not all residents are human; this 50-mile stretch of water is also home to the endangered Ganges river dolphin. Unfortunately, the dolphins are under severe threat from anthropogenic factors ranging from excessive pollution and utilization of dredgers for lifting river sand to the use of motorized boats. As a result, as many as fifteen dolphins have died in the last three months in the Halda River. Among those dolphins, one weighed around 70 kilograms and was found on January 5, while another weighed around 80 kilograms and was found on January 3. Both the dolphins were discovered floating in the same river and had sustained injuries on their bodies. The Halda River Research Laboratory indicated that the current number of dolphins in Bangladesh will not surpass 1,200. Out of the total number, approximately 250 dolphins are found in the Halda River. According to Professor Mohammed Manzoorul Kibria, a leading Halda River researcher from University of Chittagong, the rapid reduction in dolphin numbers in the river is a matter of serious concern. He called for urgent steps to conserve the river dolphins, which includes declaring Halda River as a dolphin sanctuary and halting random dredging without delay. Professor Saidur Rahman Chowdhary of Chittagong University's Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries added that pollution as a result of untreated solid and liquid waste from households and industrial units is threatening the Halda River's ecological balance. In addition, he called for a ban on using gill nets for fishing. A report by the Chittagong Department of Environment last year showed that untreated drainage released from various households and industrial units were polluting the river. It also indicated twelve recommendations to save the river from pollution, which included designating the dredging spots since random sand lifting increases the level of turbidity and enforcing a ban on motorized boats during the migration and spawning season of the fish.

A Ganges river dolphin leaping out of water

I really feel it is highly crucial to take necessary steps to save the dolphins of the Halda River. These animals are known for being bio-indicators, and their number in any aquatic area shows whether that area is polluted or not. The pollution in the Halda River not only affects the dolphins, but also the fish. Because the river is the largest breeding ground for Indian carps, both the dolphins and people rely on the river for survival. The ongoing dredging and disposal of untreated waste has affected and continues to affect the carp population. If this goes on, it will certainly affect the livelihood, health, and survival of the local people living in the vicinity of the river as well as further endangering the dolphins' lives. I think in order to stop the further impact of pollution, various households and industrial units should undergo significant improvement so that the waste does not end up in the river untreated. In addition, fishermen should be provided with a harmless alternative to gill net fishing and encouraged to use it in order to save the dolphins. But most of all, I believe it is essential to declare Halda River as a river dolphin sanctuary. One such example is seen in the state of Bihar, India, where a dolphin sanctuary was established on a 50-km stretch of the Ganges River. If India is able to establish a sanctuary for river dolphins, Bangladesh can too. Doing so would ensure the dolphins' survival through initiatives directed at curbing pollution caused by random dredging and uncontrolled waste disposal, and overfishing.

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