Concerns Rise Over Endangered Dolphin Death in Boko River
Endangered Dolphin Found Dead in Boko
The exact cause of death of the endangered dolphin remains unknown
BOKO, May 24: On Saturday, residents in the area discovered the carcass of a rare river dolphin (Xihu), classified as endangered, in the Mora Kolohi river, close to the Samaria Revenue Circle office in Boko. The dolphin's decomposed body was seen floating in the river, which is located near the historic Samaria Satra.
While the precise reason for the dolphin's death is still unclear, it has raised significant alarm and speculation among the community. Some nature enthusiasts have suggested that the dolphin's demise may be linked to ongoing sand mining activities in the Mora Kolohi river. They noted that similar incidents have occurred in the past, yet the West Kamrup Forest Division and the Nagarbera River Range Forest Department have shown little concern. Additionally, some locals suspect that toxic waste and polluted water from the Chhaygaon Industrial Development Centre could be responsible.
Conversely, environmentalists counter this claim, arguing that dolphins are highly intelligent creatures; if toxic water were the cause, it would likely have affected fish and other aquatic species first.
Another theory is that the dolphin may have become ensnared in fishing nets. However, the Kamrup district administration has imposed a fishing ban from April to July this year to facilitate fish breeding. Concerned citizens accuse the Kamrup district administration of negligence, alleging that illegal fishing practices are still occurring, which disrupts breeding and may have led to the dolphin's death.
Nature advocates in Boko highlighted that dolphins usually give birth during the summer or rainy season, particularly between May and July. If this dolphin was pregnant, the lack of action from the Forest Department and district administration has resulted in the loss of both a rare adult dolphin and its unborn calf.
Subodh Talukdar, the DFO of West Kamrup Forest Division, confirmed that the carcass has been sent to Nagarbera for a post-mortem, and the cause of death will be established once the report is available.
Worryingly, records indicate that dolphin deaths and injuries have been reported near this sand mining location in previous years. Despite the area's designation as a habitat for endangered river dolphins, the Forest Department recently issued a two-year sand mining permit.
Sources within the Forest Department allege that some corrupt officials are colluding with miners for personal gain. Reports suggest that trucks are transporting up to 25 cubic meters of sand using transit passes meant for only 15 cubic meters, leading to significant revenue losses for the government and damaging the Boko-Samaria connecting road.
Moreover, illegal sand transportation without proper transit passes is rampant, further harming the aquatic ecosystem, endangering rare dolphins, and adversely affecting the entire environment.
Concerned citizens from the Boko area are calling on higher authorities within the Forest Department, the State Government, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to conduct a thorough investigation and take measures to protect the endangered river dolphins.
By
A correspondent