A tragic discovery was made in the holy waters of the Ganga in Kanpur late on Friday evening. The carcass of a massive, 10-foot-long Gangetic dolphin was found under a bridge in the Jajmau area, raising serious concerns about river pollution.
Recovery and Initial Suspicions
Acting on the discovery, the Jajmau police, with crucial assistance from local boatmen, managed to pull the heavy carcass out of the river. The body was promptly handed over to the forest department for further investigation. Forest ranger Rakesh Pandey took charge of the remains.
Officials from the forest department confirmed the identity of the animal as a Gangetic dolphin. They estimated its weight to be around 3.5 quintals. Preliminary observations by Jajmau police station in-charge Jitendra Singh indicated that the carcass appeared to be two to three days old.
While the exact cause of death will be determined after a post-mortem examination, officials and local residents immediately pointed a finger at the chronically poor water quality of the Ganga in this stretch. The prevailing suspicion is that high pollution levels, leading to severe oxygen deficiency, may have killed the aquatic mammal.
Timing and Broader Implications
This incident comes at a sensitive time, just ahead of the Magh Snan, a major holy bathing festival set to begin on January 3 in Prayagraj. Authorities, from the Chief Minister's office down to district officials, are on high alert to prevent any pollution from entering the river during this period.
As a preventive measure for the Magh fair, tanneries in the area have been shut since December 31. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Anjali Vishwakarma confirmed that the forest department had been informed and would conduct the necessary post-mortem to clarify the exact cause of death.
The Plight of the Gangetic Dolphin
The Ganga river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a freshwater species inhabiting the Ganga and its tributaries across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It is a species fighting for survival, having been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996.
The survival of this species is threatened by a multitude of factors:
- Reduced river flows during dry seasons.
- Entanglement in fishing nets leading to accidental deaths.
- Historical hunting practices.
- Increasing pollution from urban and agricultural runoff.
The death of this dolphin in Kanpur serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing environmental challenges facing one of India's most iconic and sacred rivers, highlighting the urgent need for sustained conservation efforts.
