Dolphins return to Kailali rivers as water level rises

Ghodaghodi: Dolphins have started appearing in various rivers of Kailali as water levels have increased with the onset of monsoon.

Dolphins have been spotted in rivers in the Tikapur and Bhajani municipality areas, which are tributaries of the Karnali River.

Conservationist Bhojraj Dhungana said dolphins that come to the rivers to raise their young have started appearing as the water level rises. “This year, for the first time, three dolphins, including one baby dolphin, were seen on Asad 16. Due to delayed rainfall, dolphins arrived later than last year,” he said.

Dolphins were not seen in the Kanda River due to low water levels. However, they have started appearing regularly at the confluence of the Mohana and Patharaiya rivers in Tikapur-7 and Bhajani Municipality-8.

Every year during the monsoon season, dolphins are seen in rivers including Mohana, Patharaiya, Kanda and Kandra, which are tributaries of the Karnali River. According to conservationist Dhungana, dolphins living in different river systems of Nepal and India stay in the tributaries of the Karnali River during the monsoon and return to the Karnali River after about three months.

The main diet of dolphins includes fish, snails and leu. The Platanista gangetica dolphin found in the area is a rare aquatic species found only in Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Various organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Terai Geosphere Programme, World Conservation Union, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Divisional Forest Office Pahalmanpur, Tikapur Municipality, Bhajani Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality, have been conducting conservation programs.

Dolphins were first recorded in the Karnali River in 2054 BS. Local Bhojraj Shrestha (Guleli Baje) started a campaign to promote and protect dolphins after seeing them for the first time.

Tourists from countries including India, China, Thailand, Japan and the United States visit the area to observe dolphins during the monsoon season. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029, has listed dolphins as protected wildlife.