SUKKUR: Endangered Indus dolphin faces serious threats to its survival from construction and operation of barrages, depletion of prey base, use of small mesh nets for fishing, increasing pollution and poaching, says Takeaki Sato, senior environment specialist of World Bank.

Mr Sato said during a visit upstream Sukkur Barrage on Wednesday that dolphins moved in the Indus River from the sea upstream till the Himalayas but after construction of barrages the river had been fragmented in compartments and thereby confined the dolphin`s movement.

Shortages of water between the compartments also pushed dolphins` movement in deep waters between Guddu and Sukkur barrages, he said.

He said that based on historic pattern of decline, Indus dolphin population was most likely to decline or disappear, from reaches with low river discharge, particularly between Sukkur and Kotri barrages.

He said that dolphin might remain in deeper portions of the canal but during annual closures reduction in water level resulted in dolphin mortality unless they were rescued. Over-exploitation ofsmall fish in the river by widespread use of small mesh nets had also adversely affected the prey base of dolphin, he said.

He said that fishing nets were commonly deployed for extended periods of time, including overnight which could result in dolphins` entanglement and mortal-ity. Illegal fishing through the use of pesticides also created harmful effects on the dolphin population, he said.

He said that pollution was suspected to inhibit population increase of the dolphin. Untreated sewage, especially from major towns along the river, was directlycontributing to this pollution and so did other domestic, agricultural and industrial pollution.

About poaching, he said the dolphin was sought after and killed for oil and meat used in traditional medicines until early 1970s when a law was imposed to ban its hunting. Although poaching activitieshad dramatically decreased since the ban, poaching still occurred sporadically, he said.

Mr Sato said that keeping in view the threats to the dolphin, Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP) funded by World Bank was financially supporting Sindh Wildlife Department for population survey and rescue programmes of the dolphin.

He said that rehabilitation of Indus Dolphin Centre, main complex of wildlife department at Sukkur, and Dolphin Watch Tower for tourists would be established.

He visited the site of Rahuja nursery of forest department near Sukkur and exchanged views with officials, urging them to give top priority to indigenous species for plantation and avoid the exotic ones.

He said that financial support would be provided to SBIP to enhance forest nurseries in public parks so that common citizens could visit them and learn to love their environment.

The WB official also visited Sundrani and Jahanpur forests in Ghotki district and supported forestation in the riverine area to control erosion and enhance riverine ecosystem.

Mr Sato was accompanied by deputy director environment of SBIP Dr Ali Mahesar and other relevant of ficials.