The Government of Bangladesh recently declared three new wildlife sanctuaries. The sanctuaries will protect the Ganges River dolphins and the Irrawaddy dolphins, these are the two only two species of dolphins left in Asia.
The Wildlife Conservation Society worked with the Bangladesh Forest Department to pinpoint where the sanctuaries should be situated.
Dr. Tapan Kumar Dey, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Forest Department, Bangladesh, said:
“A critical component will be to engage local human communities. The wildlife sanctuaries will be used as a natural laboratory for developing management practises that balance wildlife conservation with the resource demands of a large and growing human population.”
Although the two species of dolphins have been given better protection, the marine mammals remain at risk and face many threats. The prey that they rely upon for a food source is being depleted and the dolphins can sometimes caught up in fishing nets. They also face challenges due to their changing habitats with sea levels rising and fresh water flow changing.
International trade in the Ganges River dolphin is banned and they are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species; the WWF says there are only 1,200 - 1,800 of the species left. The status of the Irrawaddy dolphin is at vulnerable with 5,000 of the species left, according to the WWF.
The Wildlife Conservation Society worked with the Bangladesh Forest Department to pinpoint where the sanctuaries should be situated.
Dr. Tapan Kumar Dey, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Forest Department, Bangladesh, said:
“A critical component will be to engage local human communities. The wildlife sanctuaries will be used as a natural laboratory for developing management practises that balance wildlife conservation with the resource demands of a large and growing human population.”
Although the two species of dolphins have been given better protection, the marine mammals remain at risk and face many threats. The prey that they rely upon for a food source is being depleted and the dolphins can sometimes caught up in fishing nets. They also face challenges due to their changing habitats with sea levels rising and fresh water flow changing.
International trade in the Ganges River dolphin is banned and they are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species; the WWF says there are only 1,200 - 1,800 of the species left. The status of the Irrawaddy dolphin is at vulnerable with 5,000 of the species left, according to the WWF.
No comments:
Post a Comment