A study conducted by the Wildlife Conservative Society (WCS) found large numbers of Irrawaddy dolphins in the freshwater region of Sunderbans Mangrove forest in Bangladesh. The study approximates the number to about 6000.
The species found in the freshwaters of the mangrove forest of Bangladesh was previously included as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List (IUCN). Although new findings offered great hopes for this ‘magnificent mammal’, but two major causes of dangers remain extremely high for their survival:
- often entanglement in the fishing nets and
- diversion of Ganges River water by India in the upstream.
As the Ganges River water is withdrawn by India in the upstream, the freshwater discharge in the lower part of Ganges in Bangladesh is declining very rapidly and causing a huge threat to the ecosystem in the Sunderbans mangrove forest as salinity is increasing. The mangrove forest not only offers a sanctuary for the Irrawaddy dolphins, but it’s the only habitat of the ‘Royal Bengal Tigers’. Deers, monkeys and many other species of birds, reptiles and mammals have made the Sunderbans mangrove forest a unique place of diverse flora and fauna. It’s not only a property of Bangladesh but it’s also a part of the World Heritage. Therefore attention and works need to be done to save this ‘Great and Magnificent’ Forest and its invaluable flora and fauna.
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