Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is located in Bhagalpur
District of Bihar
, India. The sanctuary is a 50 km stretch of the Ganges River from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. Designated in 1991, it is the only protected area for the endangered Gangetic dolphins in Asia. Once found in abundance, only a few hundred remain, of which half are found here.
The Gangetic dolphins have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India
. This decision was taken in the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority
(NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
on Monday, 5 October 2009.
The Sanctuary also contains rich diversity of other threatened aquatic wildlife, including the Indian smooth-coated otter
(Lutrogale perspicillata), gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a variety of freshwater turtles, and 135 species of waterfowl.
Bhagalpur
Junction Railway Station serves as the nearest railhead. Area between Sultanganj in West of Bhagalpur to Kahalgoan in East of Bhagalpur. Notably at Barari Ghat, where the Vikramshila Setu
starts.
Noted works are:
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
District of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, India. The sanctuary is a 50 km stretch of the Ganges River from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. Designated in 1991, it is the only protected area for the endangered Gangetic dolphins in Asia. Once found in abundance, only a few hundred remain, of which half are found here.
The Gangetic dolphins have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This decision was taken in the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority
National Ganga River Basin Authority
National Ganga River Basin Authority is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Environment of India...
(NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
on Monday, 5 October 2009.
Attraction
Major attractions are Gangetic Dolphins (known as Soons by Locals) which are classified as Endangered on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and included in Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.The Sanctuary also contains rich diversity of other threatened aquatic wildlife, including the Indian smooth-coated otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
(Lutrogale perspicillata), gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a variety of freshwater turtles, and 135 species of waterfowl.
Visiting
The best time to visit is October and June.Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
Junction Railway Station serves as the nearest railhead. Area between Sultanganj in West of Bhagalpur to Kahalgoan in East of Bhagalpur. Notably at Barari Ghat, where the Vikramshila Setu
Vikramshila Setu
Vikramshila Setu is a bridge across the Ganges, near Bhagalpur in the Indian state of Bihar.The 4.7 km long bridge serves as a link between NH 80 and NH 31 running on the opposite sides of the Ganges. It runs from Barari Ghat on the Bhagalpur side on the south bank of the Ganges to Naugachia...
starts.
Threats
- Multiple dams and barriers disrupting free movement of the dolphins.
- Pollution by fertilisers, pesticides and industrial and domestic effluents, which are responsible for the death of many fish and are likely to have a negative effect on dolphin population.
- Killing of the animals for their meat or oil (used as catfish bait), and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
Conservation
There are various conservation works going on the Santuary Area.Noted works are:
- The VikramshilaVikramshilaUniversity was one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the Pala dynasty, along with University. was established by King Dharmapala in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nālandā...
Biodiversity Research and Education Centre (VBREC), led by Dr. Sunil Chaudhary, together with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation SocietyWhale and Dolphin Conservation Societythe Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is a wildlife charity that is dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises...
(WDCS), the Environmental Biology Laboratory of PatnaPatnaPaṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
University, and T.M. Bhagalpur University, has initiated a project to improve the conservation value of Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. - Aaranyak, a registered conservation NGO working in North East India since 1989, has initiated a project entitled "Conservation of Gangetic dolphin in Brahmaputra river system, India" in collaboration with Dibrugarh University (Assam). The project aims to evaluate the conservation status of the Ganges River dolphin throughout the entire Brahmaputra river system by carrying out research into the species' population status, distribution, habitat preferences and threats.
- WWF India also had started The Dolphin Conservation Programme to conserve the habitat of the Ganges River Dolphin and secure a future for the endangered species.
External links
- NDTV Survey of 7 wonders of India
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVXEYtGpIRUDavid AttenboroughDavid AttenboroughSir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
Video on Gangetic Dolphins]