According to Hindu mythology, when the Goddess Ganga descended to Earth, the dolphin was one of the ‘vahans’ (carriers). People have known them from time immemorial, but it was first ‘discovered’ in 1901 by Roxburgh. According to historians, it was given a high status by Emperor Ashoka. Though the Gangetic Dolphin is protected under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the law needs stronger enforcement. |
