Ganges river dolphin
The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a species of toothed whale classified in the family Platanistidae. It lives in the Ganges and related rivers of South Asia, namely in the countries of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.[1] It is related to the much smaller Indus river dolphin which lives in the Indus River in Pakistan and the Beas River of northwestern India.[2]
It is also known by the name susu (popular name) or "Sisu" (Assamese language) and shushuk (Bengali).[3] The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the Government of India as its National Aquatic Animal[4] and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.[5] Its first occurrence, within the Hooghly River, was documented by William Roxburgh.[6]
Mythology and folklore[edit]
The Ganges dolphin is associated with Ganga and is occasionally the depiction of her vahana, the makara.[7]
Bangladesh has established six sanctuaries in the Sundarbans.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ WWF. "WFF Ganges river Dolphin". WFF Conservation.
- ↑ "Signs of hope as population of endangered Indus River dolphin jumps in Pakistan". WWF. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
- ↑ "Susu, the blind purpoise ... in the Ganges River, blind porpoise of Asia". The New Book of Knowledge, Grolier Incorporated. 1977., page 451 [letter A] and page 568 [letter S].
- ↑ "Declaration of Gangetic Dolphin as National Aquatic Animal" (PDF). Government of India – Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ↑ "Gangetic river dolphin to be city animal of Guwahati". The Times of India. 6 June 2016.
- ↑ Sinha K., Ravindra (2014). "Ganges River Dolphin: An Overview of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation Status in India". Journal of Biology. 43 (8): 1029–1046. doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0534-7. PMC 4235892. PMID 24924188.
- ↑ Singh, Vijay (1994). The River Goddess. London. ISBN 978-1-85103-195-5 Search this book on
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- ↑ Abu Siddique (26 January 2023). "Banned but abundant, gillnets pose main threat to Bangladesh's river dolphins". Mongabay. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
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