The NationalChambal sanctuary in UP will soon have a dolphin sanctuary area too. A proposal for the same was sent to the by deputy conservator of forest (wildlife) Arushi Mishra of the sanctuary project. The dolphin sanctuary has been proposed in Sahson ofChambalsanctuary, which has a considerable presence of dolphins in a stretch of 20 kms. Dolphin count in the area is 50 to 80 at present.
The Gangetic dolphin is national aquatic animal of the country. Proposal for the dolphin sanctuary is meant for the conservation of dolphins, said the official. In the 2012 census of the Gangetic dolphin, 671 of them were found in the rivers in the state, out of which 78 were sighted in the Chambal. At present, Bah range of Chambal sanctuary has 24 dolphins while another 147 dolphins are in the Etawah range, taking the total to 171 dolphins in the Chambal river in UP.
The Chambal sanctuary is spread across 635 sq km in three states, MP,Rajasthanand UP. The sanctuary has 2,176 ghariyals, 878 crocodiles and several rare species of turtles. The centre has identified two sites for the dolphin sanctuary in UP. The presentation on the two sites, chosen in Varanasi and Chambal, have already been made to the central government.