India’s first Dolphin research center

India’s first Dolphin research center

News: The NDRC was inaugurated on a Monday in March 2024 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

About:
• The NDRC is India’s first-ever research facility dedicated to the study and conservation of freshwater dolphins, especially those in the Ganges River. It is located on the banks of the Ganges inside the Patna University campus.
• The NDRC aims to help scientists, academicians, and research students understand and research the behavior of freshwater dolphins. It is envisioned to be established as a center of excellence in the future.
• The NDRC focuses on the research of the Ganges dolphin, which is found in the GangesBrahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.

Key facts
• Dolphins play a crucial role in maintaining the health of river ecosystems. Their presence indicates a river’s good ecological status, as they require clean water to survive.
• Hunting Ganges dolphins is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.