Protecting the blind Indus dolphins

Sindh Wildlife department is taking measures to save and maintain the 10 Ramsar sites in Sindh, keeping in view that that the migratory birds came from Russia, Siberia and various countries of Central Asia to spend winter season in Pakistan.

Besides, the department would also put more concentration on the reserves of Blind Indus Dolphin by providing better environment and living condition for them as the department has so far saved 76 blind Indus dolphins through rescue operation from 1995 to 2007. The population of the Indus Dolphin across Indus River has reached to 821, sources said.

The Indus dolphin reserve has also been declared Ramsa in 2001.In Pakistan, so far 19 wetlands have been declared as Ramsar sites in Pakistan out of which 10 are in Sindh. The ten wetlands of Sindh which have been declared as Ramsar sites based on the criteria that they regularly support congregation of 20,000 water birds or more regularly.

Ramsar (Iran) Convention was held under the auspices of wetland international and was signed by Pakistan in 1971 and ratified in January 1976. The sources in Sindh Wildlife department said 10 Ramsar sites were in Sindh out of which three sites were declared in 2002, three in 2001 and three in 1976.

The first one was Drigh Lake declared Ramsar in 1976 which covered an area of 164 hectors, Haleji Lake in 1976 which covered an area of 1,704 hectares, Kinjhar (Karli) Lake in 1976 which covered an area of 13,468 hectares, Indus Dolphin Reserve in 2001 which covered an area of 125,000 hectares. Jubho Lagoon in 2001 which covered an area of 706 hectares, Nurri Lagoon in 2001 which covered an area of 2,540 hectares, Hub Dam in 2001 which covered an area of 27,000 hectares, Deh Akro-11 Desert wetland complex in 2002 which covered an area of 20,500 hectares, Indus Delta in 2002 which covered an area of 472,800 hectares and Runn of Kutch in 2002 which covered an area of 566,375 hectares.

The other 9 Ramsar sites situated in Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan.According to the sources in NWFP, Tanda Dam was declared Ramsar in 1976 which covered an area of 405hectares and Thanedar Wala in 1976 which covered an area of 4,047 hectares.

In Punjab, Taunsa Barrage declared Ramsar in 1996 which covered an area of 6,576 hectares, Chashma Barrage in 1996 which covered an area of 34,099 hectares and Uchhali Complex (including Khabbaki, Uchhali and Jahlar Lakes) in 1996 which covered an area of 1,243 hectares.In Balochistan Astola (Haft Talar) island was declared Ramsar site in 2001 which covered an area of 5,000 hectares, Jiwani Coastal Wetland in 2001 which covered an area of 4,600 hectares, Miani Hor in 2001 which covered an area of 55,000 hectares and Omara Turtle Beaches in 2001 which covered an area of 2,400 hectares.

The sources in the Sindh Wildlife department said that the results of preserving the Indus Blind Dolphin was achieving as its population is increasing.