Rare dolphin rescued from Chenab River
The Indus and Ganges River dolphins are often referred to as blind dolphins because they live in naturally muddy rivers and after millions of years of evolution have lost their eyesight. PHOTO: EXPRESS
A rare river dolphin was caught in a fishing net in the Chenab River but was safely rescued and released back into the water by fishermen.
The incident was recorded on a mobile phone by a passer-by, and the video of the rescue later went viral on social media.
According to sources, fishermen were fishing as usual when the dolphin became entangled in their net. After noticing the animal, they carefully removed it from the net and released it back into the river.
Sources said the dolphin weighed more than four maunds and was around six feet long.
The video shows fishermen freeing the dolphin from the net before releasing it into the river.
Experts said river dolphins were rare aquatic animals and that their hunting was prohibited.
The fishermen's decision to release the dolphin rather than harm or retain it was widely appreciated.
They called for more effective awareness and monitoring measures by the relevant authorities to protect rare aquatic species in the country's rivers.