Fifty-four dolphins recorded in Kailali

By Avinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, Jan. 9: A total of 54 dolphins have been recorded in Kailali this year. The record was made during a study conducted by the Bardia office of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), in coordination with Dolphin, Aquatic and Biodiversity Conservation Nepal.

The study recorded 15 dolphins in the morning and eight semi-adult calves in the evening.

The survey was carried out in September during the dolphin observation season in the Mohana and Patharaiya rivers in the Tikapur and Bhajani areas of Kailali. 

Chief of the NTNC Bardia Ajit Tumbahamphe said the study was conducted in a systematic and scientific manner with the participation of trained local community members.

According to him, surveys were carried out both in the morning and evening using GPS technology. The globally rare Gangetic River dolphin is known to visit rivers in Kailali throughout the monsoon season and return downstream once water levels decrease.

In the past, local conservationists had recorded up to 68 dolphins in Kailali. Compared to that, fewer dolphins were found this time, Tumbahamphe said, adding that dolphin surveys will now be conducted annually in the Mohana and Patharaiya rivers. The Trust said local-level efforts for dolphin conservation have been encouraging. He stressed that stopping riverbed extraction and ensuring proper waste management in river areas would further strengthen conservation.The study did not cover upstream sections of the Mohana River, including areas of Kailari Rural Municipality and Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City. Locals said that dolphins reach as far as Phulbari in Dhangadhi during the monsoon. 

Conservationist Bijay Raj Shrestha said dolphins were also seen in the past near the bridge area at Trinagar customs point along the Mohana River.

The survey was conducted using observation methods at various dolphin sighting points. Bhojraj Dhungana, president of Dolphin, Aquatic and Biodiversity Conservation Nepal, said more dolphin calves were recorded this year compared to last year, although the overall number was slightly lower. According to Dhungana, 62 dolphins were recorded in 2021 and 68 in 2022, while 50 dolphins were recorded last year. Dolphin, Aquatic and Biodiversity Conservation Nepal has been conducting local-level dolphin counts for several years.