Authorities mull dredging pools of dolphins in Chambal river

To ensure number of gangetic river dolphins doesn't decline in Madhya Pradesh's Chambal river, Forest Department plans to dredge or de-silt their habitats in the water body.
"We are going to dredge (de-silt) the pools of dolphins. We are going to send a proposal to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in this regard shortly," Gwalior Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Rajesh Kumar told PTI today.
"The gangetic river dolphins, which are essentially blind, need 70-80 feet deep pools (habitat) to breed. Though their number has risen in river Chambal to 78, we have to be futurists to protect them or we have to do fire-fighting," he said.

The official said if they get the nod, they will start the dredging on experimental basis first.
"Right now, Chambal river has 13 dolphin pools (in which dolphins live) of which eight are as deep as 70-80 feet," he said.
Kumar said the gangetic river dolphins, the national aquatic animal, are blind but have highly developed sonar systems which they use for communication and navigation.