Photo: RSS
KAILALI: Dolphins have begun appearing in the rivers of Kailali as water levels rise. Bijay Raj Shrestha, secretary of the Dolphin Conservation Center, reported spotting dolphins from the riverside areas of Tikapur Municipality wards 6, 7 and 8, and Bhajani Municipality wards 3, 5, 7 and 8.
According to Shrestha, dolphins can be spotted in the Mohana, Pathariya, Kanda, and Kandra rivers, as well as other tributaries of the Karnali River. Both adult dolphins and calves have been observed, he added.
“Dolphins from various river systems in India and Nepal inhabit the Karnali’s tributaries during the monsoon season,” Shrestha said. “They typically stay for over three months before returning to the main Karnali River as the monsoon recedes.”
According to experts, these rivers provide an abundance of fish, snails, and algae – the dolphins’ primary food sources – attracting them annually during the rainy season. Shrestha added that clean water, plentiful food and numerous river confluences make these areas ideal habitat for dolphins.
The species found here is the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) which is native to Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Conservationist Bhoj Raj Dhungana said that dolphin sightings help to boost tourism during rainy season. “Visitors come not only from within Nepal but also from India, China, Thailand, Japan and the US,” he added
Recognizing the area’s ecotourism potential, various organizations, including WWF, UNDP, Terai Arc Landscape Program, IUCN, National Trust for Nature Conservation, and the Division Forest Office Pahalamanpur, are active in conservation works in the region. Local municipal governments are also involved in conservation efforts.
The region has already hosted four Dolphin Festivals to raise awareness about dolphin conservation. Ram Bichari Thakur, chief of the Division Forest Office Pahalamanpur, said ecotourism opportunities in the region can be enhanced by incorporating dolphin sighting trips in existing birding and wildlife tourism activities.
Dolphins were first spotted in the Karnali River in 1997. Local resident Bhoj Raj Shrestha also known as Guleli Baje first sighted dolphins in Karnali River and started awareness campaigns.
