Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) has conducted “Dolphin Mitra Awareness Program ” at Nayachar, Nadia in collaboration with the Burdwan Forest Division on 4th June, 2020. NEWS volunteer Ganesh Chowdhury, helped in the co ordination of the awareness program with forest officials .as he covered about 25 kilometers, from Agradip, Nayachar to Fulbagan, Katwa across the branches of Ganga and Ajay rivers in a patrol boat. The awareness campaign, targeting the local people and the fishermen community, was carried out from 7.00 am to 1.00 p.m.
The objective of this awareness campaign was to highlight the importance of the endangered national aquatic animal, the Gangetic river dolphin ,promote ways to protect its habitat and address the conflict issues in front of locals whose livelihood depends on the river. The awareness campaign also embraced the critically endangered Gharial, the vulnerable Smooth coated otter and the freshwater soft-shell turtles which share the same riverine habitat and face similar threats . The following issues were highlighted among the fishermen and their active co operation sought.
It was also decided that the Awareness program with the patrol boats will be held once every month by Dolphin Mitra Steward Group in the presence of forest department officials.
In the current unfortunate situation , post-COVID 19 Pandemic and the severe super cyclone “Amphan” field activities were a real challenge. But despite odds, Dolphin Mitra Steward team, in collaboration with the Burdwan Forest Division, will continue to conduct the Awareness campaigns and help in the conservation of the species and promote coexistence without further conflicts.
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