Saving the dolphins: Wildlife department starts awareness campaign

Survey also underway to find out how many dolphins are left between Guddu and Sukkur.

SUKKUR: After the death of six blind Indus dolphins, the Sukkur wildlife department has geared up to fight. Putting its staff on high alert, the department has started a campaign to tell people, especially fishermen, about the dangers to marine life.

In the past month, two dolphins were found dead at Guddu while four had washed up near Ali Wahan, which is around 12 kilometres from Sukkur. The blame was put on fishermen who are allegedly using poisonous chemicals to catch fish. Water levels had been low because Sukkur Barrage had been closed for annual maintenance for more than half a month in January.

Sukkur Deputy Conservator Taj Muhammad Shaikh said the chief minister has taken notice of the deaths. He maintained that Indus dolphins are safe all throughout the year - except when the barrage is shut down. The water level is reduced and ponds are created along the river banks. Taking advantage of this, fishermen use nets - and sometimes chemicals - to catch fish. However, when samples from the river were sent to the Rohri laboratory, the reports did not confirm the use of chemicals.

He said that every fisherman is getting the Benazir card for fishing and is using banned nets.

The natural habitat of the Indus blind dolphins is particularly between the Guddu and Sukkur barrages.

Sewerage from cities and towns is frequently released into River Indus. Moreover, water from the boilers of the Guddu thermal power station is also contaminating the river.

According to the last survey in 2006, the number of blind dolphins between Guddu and Sukkur barrages was 808, while 15 of them were living between Sukkur and Kotri barrages. Shaikh said that the survey is carried out after every five years and is due this year. They were hopeful that the number of dolphins would have reached 1,000 by now.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2011.