- Project Dolphin is an Indian government initiative to conserve both riverine and oceanic dolphin species launched in 2021.
- The project was announced on 15 August 2020 during the 74th Independence Day celebrations.
- It is under the Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- It is modeled on Project Tiger.
- October 5th has also been designated as “National Dolphin Day” by the environment ministry.
- Activities
- A dolphin breeding centre for the Gangetic River dolphin is planned for the Bengal region, specifically the stretch of the Ganges river between Farakka and Gangasagar, already home to 650 dolphins.
- India’s dolphins are at risk of extinction due to a variety of factors, namely: strandings in canal systems, constructions of waterways, unchecked fishing activity using nylon nets, noise pollution from ships, among other factors.