Scientists to study Ganga Dolphins’ behaviour

IIT Delhi and the University of Tokyo have launched a joint technological venture to study dolphins in India. Scientists from both the institutes have combined their expertise to develop hydrophones which can grab sonar waves from dolphins and transfer them to computers for studying their social behaviour. The scientists will also hold the first, real census of their numbers in India.

“For the first time, we will be able to put a number to the dolphin population. So far, everything was based on visual observation. We have also been successful to differentiate between the adult and the calves. Earlier, there was limited data available on adult dolphins, as they are reclusive,” explains Dr Sandeep Behra, WWF coordinator, also a part of the initiative.

After the first successful experiment in Chilka for Irrawadi dolphins, they have now decided to study the dolphins in River Ganga using this technology. Prof Rajendra Bahal of IIT Delhi is on a trip to Japan to take the research forward and introduce accuracy in the existing system. “The dolphins in Ganga are completely blind, and we need stronger hydrophones to catch the sonar waves,” adds Behra.