Guwahati, May 29: The fast disappearing Gangetic river dolphin will soon find saviours among local residents and fishermen. Alarmed by the dwindling numbers of this endangered species, a Ford Foundation-funded project will adopt a participatory approach involving communities in an effort to save Gangetic dolphins in Assam.

The city-based Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research has been entrusted with the task of implementing the project, christened Saving the Gangetic Dolphins, Eco-tourism and Livelihoods. The three-year project will cover Dhubri district, Kulsi in Kamrup district and Guijan in Tinsukia district.

The main objective behind the project is to stabilise the dolphin population in the area by analysing the threats to the mammals and reducing them.

Last week, an awareness camp on dolphins was organised in collaboration with Gramya Arthanitik Bikas Kendra, a local NGO, in Kukurmara in Kamrup district. Focussing on the need to protect this endangered animal, the camp encouraged young minds to express their views on conservation through essay-writing, painting, extempore speech and poster-making contests.

Gangetic dolphins fall prey not only to poachers but also to unwitting fishermen. To prevent such accidental killings, the centre will impart precautionary knowledge among fishermen on the use of fishing gear. It will also disseminate information on conservation and familiarise local communities with the habits of the animals and the threats ? both human and natural ? posed to them.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, anyone found guilty of killing or possessing any part of the aquatic animal protected under Schedule I of the act can be imprisoned for a period of one to six years and fined not less than Rs 6,000.

When present in large numbers, the river dolphin, which is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, indicates a healthy ecosystem.

The species inhabits the waters of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems. In India, their territory extends from the foot of the Himalayas to the tidal zone. They are also found in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

Commonly known as susu in North India and hihu in the Brahmaputra valley, the Gangetic river dolphin is among the four existent fresh water dolphin species.

The other three are the Baiji found in the Yangtze river in China, the Bhulan inhabiting the Indus in Pakistan and the Buto of the Amazon.