- The first ‘National Dolphin Day’ was celebrated on 5th October 2022. In March 2022, the Union Environment Ministry had announced to organize 5th October every year as ‘National Dolphin Day’.
- The Gangetic dolphin is an indicator species, whose status provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem, for the Ganga ecosystem and is extremely vulnerable to changes in water quality and flow.
- It is categorised as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List.
- A WWF-India and the Uttar Pradesh forest department assessment in 2012 and 2015 recorded 1,272 dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ken, Betwa, Son, Sharda, Geruwa, Gahagra, Gandak and Rapti.
- The purpose of this day is to create awareness and promote community participation for the conservation of all types of dolphins found in India, including the Ganges dolphin. It is noteworthy that in the year 2009, ‘Ganges Dolphin’ was recognized as ‘National Aquatic Animal’ by the Government of India.
First National Dolphin Day celebrated on 5th October 2022
