“Ganga Ka Aabhushan: Gangeya Dolphin”, unique feature on dolphins by All India Radio

“Ganga Ka Aabhushan: Gangeya Dolphin”, unique feature on dolphins by All India Radio

Akashvani’s Central Hindi feature Unit brings an unusual story “Ganga Ka Aabhushan: Gangeya Dolphin”. The feature is mainly based on the conservation efforts to save the Ganges Dolphins in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar, and is scheduled to be broadcast on 10^th March 2016 on the Indraprastha Channel and other frequencies at 9:30pm, and will also be available on the Sound Cloud https://soundcloud.com/allindiaradio-air . The feature is written by Prof. Sunil Kumar Choudhary , Chief Co-ordinator, Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, located in Bhagalpur, Bihar and produced by Naomi Shanti Hembram (AIR, Bhagalpur).

The feature focuses on the life and an unknown threat faced by the beautiful Ganges Dolphins, popularly known as ‘Soans’. Ganges River Dolphins prefer to live in deep waters, in and around the confluence of two or more rivers. The distribution range of the Ganges River Dolphins in India covers seven states: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Their ideal habitat in this river along the tributaries are the Upper Ganga River (in Uttar Pradesh), Chambal River (Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), Ghaghra and Gandak Rivers (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), Ganga River, from Varanasi to Patna (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar), from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon (Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar) Sone and Kosi rivers (Bihar), Brahmaputra from Sadia (foothills of Arunachal Pradesh) upto Dhubri (on the Bangladesh Border) and Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river.

Recently the changing lifestyle, fishing and change in the course of river Ganges, have posed a threat for this friendly mammal. To protect and preserve their natural habitat, Government and many non-profit organizations have taken up measures to spread awareness and to step up conservation projects.

All India Radio’s Central Hindi feature Unit has tried to capture the story and bring it to listeners with an aim to spread awareness about this threat. The unit has always been popular for its outstanding contribution towards social issues and has brought into limelight several silent social endeavours that are changing the face of our society in different parts of the country.  It has been active since 1968, and has scripted many bold and life altering socially relevant stories. This is yet another effort by the unit to let us know about our heritage which is mute but live and brings life in the majestic river The Ganges.