Ganges shock: 10-foot giant Dolphin carcass washes up, Forest Dept. scrams to investigate
Kanpur (The Uttam Hindu): The discovery of the carcass of a giant endangered dolphin on the banks of the Ganges in the Jajmau area of the industrial city of Kanpur has caused a stir among the administration and environmentalists. The carcass of this "mermaid," considered a benchmark for the Ganges' cleanliness and hygiene, is estimated to be about 10 feet long and weighs approximately 350 kilograms. A forest department team arrived at the scene, took possession of the carcass, and sent it for a post-mortem examination.
Sailors saw a floating body
The incident occurred in the Jajmau police station area. On Friday night, local boatmen spotted a large object floating in the Ganges. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a dead dolphin. The boatmen immediately informed the police. Upon receiving the information, Forest Department Ranger Rakesh Pandey and Station House Officer Jitendra Singh arrived at the scene with their team. Forest Department officials stated that the carcass appeared to have died two to three days ago. Since the case is under the Wildlife Protection Act, the police have handed over the carcass to the Forest Department.
Is Jajmau's chemical becoming a disaster?
Experts and locals have blamed the tanneries (leather industry) in Jajmau for the dolphin's death. Contaminated water containing chromium and hazardous chemicals from tanneries in the Jajmau area flows directly into the Ganges. It is suspected that the dolphin may have consumed poisonous fish or contaminated water while hunting, leading to its death. However, the Forest Department says the exact cause of death will only be determined after the post-mortem report is released.
Namami Gange's identity on the verge of extinction
The Ganges dolphin, also known as "sus" in the local language, has been declared protected by the central government under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. It is not only India's national aquatic animal but also a symbol of the success of the "Namami Gange" mission. Since dolphins can only survive in clean water, its discovery in Kanpur highlights the dire state of the Ganges' pollution levels.
What do the figures say?
According to the 2024 survey data released in March 2025, the total number of dolphins in the Ganges was recorded at 6,324. A slight increase (52) was observed from Bijnor to the Narora Barrage, but the number remains alarming in highly polluted areas like Kanpur. Four dolphins have also died under suspicious circumstances in the Meerut-Bulandshahr region over the past four years, and the mystery remains unsolved. Experts warn that if strict action is not taken against tanneries, this rare species may become extinct.