GUWAHATI, May 6 ? Sharp decline in the population of endangered river, dolphins, locally known as ?sihu?, has prompted the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to initiate action to declare Kulsi river, the only known abode of resident river dolphins in the world, as a wildlife sanctuary for effective conservation of the species. Sources informed that the Union Ministry vide letter No. 6-13-114/2001/RONE/AS/2702-4 asked the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests, Government of Assam, to carry out population estimation of river dolphins in Kulsi river and consider declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary for effective conservation of river dolphins. It may be mentioned that the move of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests was prompted by the initiative taken by a local NGO, North East Youth Development Association, for conservation of river dolphins in Kulsi river.
The NGO submitted a proposal supported by VCD documenting river dolphins in Kulsi river, to the Union Ministry on November 21 for conservation of dolphins in the area river and promotion of eco-tourism. The NGO in its proposal pointed out that Kulsi river happened to be the only abode of resident river dolphins in the world, which has been declared endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data Book. The NGO in its proposal to the Union Ministry appreciated the efforts of the villagers Kukurmara on the bank of Kulsi river to conserve river dolphins in the area despite their poor economic condition.
However, the poverty-striken villagers have been forced to extract sand from the bed of the river which has led to disruption of habitat of dolphins. So the ministry was requested to initiate steps to open self employment avenues for those poor villagers of Kukurmara village who have so far shown exemplary restraint in protecting endangered dolphins in Kulsi river. While dolphin population all over the state has been shrinking, there has been gradual rise in the population of the species in Kulsi river because of the availability of food and protection provided by villagers. As per the latest river dolphin census carried out by Dolphin Conservation Society of Assam and WWP there are 191 dolphins in the state rivers including the 89 in Brahmaputra in 1997 the figure was 218.