Over 100 dolphins found dead in Sundarbans in last 12 years
DOT Desk: More than 100 shushuks (or South Asian river dolphin) and dolphins were found dead in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, in the last 12 years, reports The Dhaka Tribune. According to these statistics, an average of nine shushuk and dolphins are killed every year. Wildlife Conservation Society Bangladesh (WCS Bangladesh) reports that one third of the dolphins are killed as they get tangled in the net and die of asphyxiation. On July 31, a shushuk, which weighed more than 120 kgs and was eight feet long, was found dead in Durgapur upazila in Rampal, Bagerhat after it got tangled in a fishing net.
The report also confirmed that from 2007 to 2019, a total of 108 dolphins died. Of these, 80 were shushuk, 24 were Irrawaddy dolphins and four were wingless porpoise dolphins. Some died after getting tangled in the current net that is normally used to catch ilish fish, while others died by being hit by boats.
Madinul Ahsan, the divisional forest officer of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, has said that 14 dolphins and shushuk have been killed in the Sundarbans, over the last six years.
He said a shushuk was found floating dead on Mongla River on July 31. The dead dolphin had its teeth tangled in the fishing net. An autopsy was conducted to find out the cause of death.
According to the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, killing dolphins that lives in rivers is a punishable offense.
It is reported that shushuk and irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) dolphin often get trapped in fishing nets in the Sundarbans region and adjoining rivers.
The dolphins can sometimes be seen floating around the rivers or seas to breathe, and getting trapped in the net creates issues as they cannot breathe while entangled in the fishermen’s nets.
Most of the time, it is seen that teeth of the shushuk and fins of irrawaddy dolphins get tangled in the net, which in turn kills the dolphins.