Wildlife researcher passes away at the age of 58

Hussain Bakhsh Baghat was known for his work on Indus Blind Dolphin.

KARACHI: The man known for his extensive research on Indus Blind Dolphin, Hussain Bakhsh Baghat, passed away on Tuesday evening after battling Hepatitis.

He breathed his last at the Ziauddin Hospital in Clifton, Karachi. He was laid to rest in his native village, Sagyun, Khairpur, on Wednesday. Baghat left behind a widow, two daughters and two sons.

The deceased did his masters in zoology from the University of Sindh in 1982 and before joining the Sindh Wildlife department in 1986, he was affiliated with the Public School Sukkur as a teacher.

As the in-charge of the department for Sukkur division, he took keen interest in the Indus Blind Dolphin and established the information centre for the Indus Blind Dolphin in Sukkur, expanding the district’s office and also set up a wildlife department office in Hyderabad.

“He was considered an authority on the Indus Blind Dolphin,” said the wildlife deputy conservative, Dr Fehmida Firdous, and executive director for the Centre for Environment and Development, Nasir Panhwar. Both believed that Baghat’s death was a big loss, saying he dedicated almost 27 years of his life on improving the department and in research.

“I still feel like he is around us,” said Dr Firdous, trying hard to contain her emotions. He was also known for his work for the Kherthar National Park, Tharparkar’s peacocks and other local species.

“He trained local fishermen on how to rescue dolphins,” said Panhwar, adding that Baghat’s name also appeared in the Green Pioneer book of the United Nations in 2002.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th,2013.