Bio-diversity

Dolphins (Platanista gangetica), the endangered freshwater mammal, is a rare site in the river systems of Nepal. Dolphins are occasionally seen in the major rivers such the Koshi, the Narayani and the Karnali and the population is dwindling everyday. But a very interesting local phenomenon is that these Gangegtic dolphins locally named as Swanshun, are easily seen during the rainy season in the Mohana river-one of the tributaries of the Karnali. The Mohana River is one of the critical habitats for the dolphin and hence there is a dire need to conserve this very freshwater ecosystem. Fish poisoning is one of the common ways to harvest the fish, which poses major threat to the already endangered freshwater mammal. The main objective of the project is to conserve endangered mammal`Dolphin` in the Mohana River with the active participation of local people and as well as to identify alternatives income-generating project to the local people especially focusing the Rajis- indigenous fishermen communities, reside in the bank of the Mohana river.

Nepal