KATHMANDU, AUGUST 25

On Sunday around 9 a.m., Jit Bahadur Tamang and Rabi Shrestha spotted a rare dolphin swimming and hopping in Budhi Rapti River. They both instantly captured this rare creature enjoying the swimming in the river.

The video of a dolphin at Dungaghat of Budhi Rapti has been shared and watched by several netizens.Furthermore, the sighting of an Asian River dolphin in the Rapti River near Chitwan National Park has captivated both conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts.

Talking to THT, Jit Bahafur Tamang said, 'We spotted it together in Budhi Rapti early this morning, which flows between Baghmara and Chitrasen community forest on the Ratnanagar Sauraha border.'

Tamang, who is also president of Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, stated that they have been dancing and swimming in the river since last Thursday.

According to him, the sight of one of the world's rarest freshwater dolphins is surprising but very soothing. 'Since it depicts our area's biodiversity and significance, this rare species is found in fresh water. Furthermore, it is extremely shocking for us because I am the local here. I was born and brought into Sauraha. And having spent over two decades in conservation and wildlife preservation areas but never seen this creature,' he added.

'Neither my grandparents nor previous generations told me anything about dolphins. However, some reports suggest that dolphins were spotted around 50 years ago in the Kasara area near Chitwan National Park.'

Similarly, Ujjawal Upadhyay, a biodiversity expert and wildlife photographer, stated that the location where this dolphin was sighted is more than 22 kilometres from the confluence of the Narayani and Rapti rivers.

'This proves that the dolphin passed through the Narayani River. Previously, it migrated from the Ganges River to this location,' he told THT. 'It has come a long way. It has been enjoying diving, swimming, and hopping for the last three days. It implies that dolphins are liking this place, and this holds a high ecological value.'

According to Upadhyay, such places are known as ecological hotspots, where the world's endangered species can relax and enjoy themselves. When asked, 'What should Nepal do now for such species?' He replied. 'Nepal should enact strict laws to protect such a place from external influences. Environmental laws must be adequately enforced.'

He further said, 'However, it has been sighted during the rainy season. Previously, dolphins were sighted throughout the year. Hence, Nepal should prioritise protecting such sites and keeping them free of any external influences, including pollution, so that dolphins can enjoy them throughout the year.'

Similarly, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), immediate action is required to prevent the extinction of these charismatic animals, about which we know little.

According to Upadhyay, this remarkable species, part of the genus Platanista, inhabits the waterways of the Indian subcontinent and was historically considered a single species with the Ganges and Indus river dolphins as subspecies.

However, recent genetic and morphological research has identified them as distinct species. The Ganges and Indus river dolphins are now recognized as distinct, diverging approximately 550,000 years ago. These dolphins are the only living members of the family Platanistidae and the superfamily Platanistoidea, with fossils of their ancient relatives dating back to the late Oligocene.

Unfortunately, Ganges River dolphins have become increasingly scarce in Nepal.

In 2016, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks estimated that only 52 remained in the country, with 43 in the Karnali River and its tributaries and nine in the Kosi River.