Our project mission and goals
Painting of Ganges river dolphin in
Bardiya National Park, Nepal
(JLewis, TDRF)
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The Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation’s (TDRF) mission is to do what we can to protect
and conserve tropical dolphin species. To help us make this goal a reality, we
are about to embark on a really exciting project; creating a documentary about
one of the most endangered of these species, the Ganges river dolphin (Plantanista gangetica). We are
doing this with the following goals in mind; 1) Create a film that will provide
information to the public about this species and the need to conserve it, 2) To
learn what we can about using this form of media so we can do a better job
promoting the conservation issues we are concerned about and 3) To then pass
this information (how to use this form of media) to other conservation
scientists and managers so they can do the same.
What is a river dolphin and why are they at risk?
Most people are not aware that some dolphins
live entirely in fresh water (rivers). There are actually three of them; the
Amazon river dolphin, the Franciscana (also found in South America) and the
Ganges river dolphin. Until 2005, there was also a river dolphin in the Yellow
river of China but it has since been declared extinct.
Ganges river dolphin in Sundarbans, Bangladesh (JLewis, TDRF)
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River dolphins are at high risk of
endangerment and extinction because they live so close to man, and have to deal
with all the problems associated with that. Pollutants in rivers are usually in
larger concentrations (coming from run off of bordering farmland or industrial
centers). Dolphins in these rivers have to avoid boats (boats do hit dolphins) and
fishing nets (many dolphins get caught and drown in these). River dolphins also
compete with the fishermen for the few fish remaining in these rivers.
Tehri Dam, India. photo: Arvind Iyer via flickr |
The Ganges river dolphin
Ganges river dolphin,
Sundarbans, Bangladesh (JLewis, TDRF) |
This species can be found in three countries in Asia, (Nepal, India and Bangladesh), but its numbers are steadily decreasing (actual number of dolphins left may range between 1000 and 2000), and it is endangered.
Ganges river dolphins range from the headwaters of the
Ganges river in Nepal, through the Ganges river itself in India,
to the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh
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Because of the low numbers and also because many of the issues it
deals with are similar to what the now extinct Yellow river dolphin dealt with,
there is a lot of concern that the Ganges river dolphin could also soon go
extinct. Preventing this will not be easy. Managing this species involves
managing human activity across three bordering countries (each with different
laws and regulations) where governments struggle just to care for their own
people. Still, many people across this region dedicate their lives to this
effort.
Inspiration and focus of this project
Gopal Khanal, working on a grant proposal
as we get ready for our first day of filming
near Bardiya National Park in Nepal. (JLewis, TDRF)
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These two young men watched the natural environments in their country decline as they grew up. And both decided they would do something about it. In particular, to help bring back the dolphin species that once ranged in four or more river systems in their country. They worked very hard and both have found their way to higher education where they now run research and outreach projects aimed at saving this species (they are both still students). They dedicate their lives to the conservation of the few remaining dolphins in their country (some estimates have been as low as 10 animals left).
The work of these young men inspired us as an
organization to attempt to document their story. We felt that explaining the
conservation issue from the perspective of the conservationists might be more
informative and could be more inspirational, than simply creating an
educational documentary about the species alone. We set out then to document
the lives of researchers working on this species in the three countries where
it ranges (Nepal, India and Bangladesh). Our aim is to inspire people to help protect
the Ganges river dolphin in addition to other endangered species by watching
the stories of these incredible conservationists.
We want to invite you to follow us as we make
this journey. We will be posting nearly daily accounts of this journey on this Blog.
As we go through this please feel free to post a comment and ask questions. You can reach us also directly. Jennifer can be contacted at: jlewis@tropicaldolphin.org and our Vice President, Jordan Blair at: jblair@tropicaldolphin.org.
We look forward to sharing these incredible
stories and the journey with you!
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