Context:
India conducts 1st ever Ganges River Dolphin Tagging in Assam.
Tagging Exercise:
- Involves attaching a device, marker, or tag to an animal for identification or tracking.
- Objective: To understand migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilization, especially in fragmented river systems.
- Part of – Project Dolphin
- Conducted by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Implemented by: Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department.
- Funded by: National CAMPA Authority.
- Established under: Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016.
- Manages the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund (under the Public Account of India).
Project Dolphin:
- Launched by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in 2020.
- Modelled after: Project Tiger.
- Aim: To conserve the Ganges River dolphins and the riverine ecosystem.
- National Dolphin Day – October 5th is designated as National Dolphin Day
Source: IE
Previous Year Question
Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?
1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
4. Use of synthetic fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (c)