Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Sep 2: The state forest department is on the verge of forwarding its proposal to take up dolphin conservation project aimed at protecting sensitive sea creatures in the coast and undertaking study on them, to the central office. The proposal will go from here to the union department of forest. Once the centre approves it, the project might begin to be implemented.
The outline of the project is being drawn in accordance with the scheme spelt out by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his message on Independence Day. As desired by the Prime Minister, the union forest department had sought details from different states. The state has sent details of all the sea creatures including dolphins and other super sensitive creatures in the 320 km long sea coast of the state.
Dolphins have often been sighted in Karnataka coast. Since 1972 till now, 19 super sensitive mammals have also been found. 11 among them were Baleen whales, three were whale sharks, two smart whales, a blue whale, one cuvier's beaked whale and one guitarfish, said the regional director in the department of environment, Dr Y K Dinesh Kumar.
In the study conducted under the leadership of Karnataka biodiversity board in 2006, 40 different types of sensitive creatures were found in the state coast. Eight among them are mammals, three turtles, three types of sea snakes, two kinds of fishes, three kinds of seashells, sea cucumber, 14 types of corals and four sponges.
Carcasses of dolphins are often found deposited on the seashore along the coast including Mangaluru. Discussions have often been held about the reason why they die, how many dolphins live on the Karnataka coast, how to save them etc. But no detailed study has been conducted so far.
Dakshina Kannada deputy forest conservator, Dr Karikalan, says that the main aim of the dolphin conservation project is to create awareness among the fishermen and the general public about the dolphins and other sensitive sea creatures and to create awareness among them about the need for their conservation.