Guwahati, Dec 18: In a groundbreaking step for wildlife conservation, Assam has become the site of the world’s first satellite tagging of a Ganges River Dolphin. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with support from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Assam Forest Department, and Aaranyak, the project is funded by the National CAMPA Authority.
The Ganges River Dolphin, or Xihu in Assam, is India’s National Aquatic Animal and an ecological icon. Nearly blind, it relies on echolocation to navigate the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems. Habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbances have severely impacted its population, with India now home to 90% of the global total.
As part of Project Dolphin, the satellite tagging aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps in the species’ movement, habitat use, and population dynamics. The first successful operation took place in Assam’s Kulsi River, where a healthy 32 kg sub-adult male dolphin was fitted with a lightweight, Argos-compatible satellite tag under veterinary supervision. The tag, designed to accommodate the dolphin’s brief surfacing times, will transmit data on its migration and habitat preferences, enabling more effective conservation strategies.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav hailed the effort as a “historic milestone,” while WII Director Virendra R. Tiwari called it a breakthrough for evidence-based conservation. Dr. Vishnupriya Kolipakam, the project’s lead investigator, noted the initiative’s broader impact on protecting aquatic biodiversity and riverine livelihoods. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated the event, calling it a “monumental effort” to protect Assam’s riverine pride.
