Having recently launched its Save the Tiger campaign to coincide with the Chinese Year of the Tiger, WWF-India is now using its resources to protect another local endangered species, the Ganges river dolphin.

Sangam in the Allahabad region will soon be designated as an international tourist spot as WWF has committed to assisting the Indian government in building a world-class dolphin sanctuary.

The area was chosen after a team of six WWF members surveyed the entire Ganga stretch in the region of Mirzapur and found a significant dolphin population of approximately 300 animals, according to District Forest Officer S N Mishra.

“If the Centre gives its nod to the WWF proposal for partnership in conservation of dolphins, the organisation will soon start work for the conservation, promotion and protection of dolphins besides developing Sangam as a world-class dolphin sanctuary,” said a member of the team.

The proposal is to be reviewed by the state government before being passed to the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment for final approval.

India recently named the river dolphin as its National Aquatic Animal, allowing more opportunity for much needed conservation as only 2,000 dolphins remain in south Asia.

By Taylor Turner