Patna: In a year, the state environment and forest department would be in a position to specify the exact number of Gangetic dolphins present in the state, the condition of their habitat and all related information related to this aquatic mammal which enjoys the status of a national aquatic animal.

The Gangetic dolphin has been kept under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and it has been declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well.

The department has roped in services of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, the Zoological Survey of India and Bhagalpur University for carrying out the survey work for getting the desired details about Gangetic dolphins.

"Such a survey is being conducted for the first time in the state when the survey work would be conducted across the rivers, where dolphins are found, in one go," principal chief conservator of forest D.K. Shukla told The Telegraph. Apart from the Ganga, dolphins are found in Gandak, Sone and Kosi rivers too.

Prior to the current effort, the estimation work for dolphin population has been done at different points of time and in parts of its habitat. It is estimated that Bihar is home to around half of the estimated 3,000 dolphin population in the country.

Shukla said team of experts from the selected agencies would carry out the survey work in summer, monsoon and winter season and hence the data collection work would be done over a period of time and the outcome of the survey would be ready by next year.

Speaking about the work being done by the Wildlife Institute of Indiateam in connection with the survey, the institute's senior scientist Qamar Quereshi said his team had already started work in parts of the Ganga and after collecting information, it would do the same work in other rivers.

The Zoological Survey of India Bihar in-charge Gopal Sharma said his team would do the survey in the Ganga between Buxar and Mokama and it would start its work soon.

Sharing more details of the exercise, principal chief conservator of forestShukla said the outcome of the survey would not only help in getting a fair idea about the number of dolphins present in Bihar but it would also give information about the condition of its habitat as well which would help in identifying the areas where these aquatic mammals are present.

"We would also use the survey report for undertaking conservation work," he added.