Seven endangered dolphins rescued

As many as seven stranded blind Indus dolphins have been rescued from Rohri Canal of Sukkur Barrage during an unprecedented operation on Tuesday.

The seven-member rescue team continued the operation for almost nine years to rescue the stranded dolphins and released them in their home in the main river.

The Indus Dolphin Conservation Unit Sukkur was informed on Saturday that some of the dolphins were seen in the area.

"They were stranded for the last couple of days in the deep water," said provincial conservator of Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD), Javed Ahmed Mahar. He said that it was a tough task for all rescue workers as saving all the animals in a single day operation was not an easy task.

During the last few years the cases of stranded dolphins have been reported from the area. "We have to check the reasons behind these frequent incidents," Mahar replied. "One of the [possible] reasons could be illegal motor boats in the area which transport wood," he added. "They cross the area that is home to these animals," he said. "The dolphins are sound sensitive and these boats make too much of noise in the water."

Mahar said, "Without scientific survey and data I cannot say they go out of their area because their population has increased."

According to the 2019 survey, a total of 1,419 dolphins were recorded but some of the officials of the SWD believed that the number could be more than 2,000.

The officials said that it was not possible to conduct another survey in the river due to law and order situation especially in three areas dominated by Jatoi Gang, Jagirani Gang and Teghani Gang.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2022.