Gangetic sharks face extinction

Surojit Mahalanobis / TNN / Jul 22, 2005, 22:45 IST

Share

AA

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

NEW DELHI: The Delhi office of the CITES has a board hung to sensitise people about 11 species of river fish species, among which one is Gangetic Sharks.

NEW DELHI: Like dugongs in Indian seas, legendary Gangetic sharks too seem to have gone extinct in Indian rivers. It's a predator fish found only in the Ganges.
The Gangetic Shark, or 'Glyphis Gangeticus' is often confused with Bull Sharks ('Carcharhinus leucas'), a large, heavy, saw-toothed species notorious for attacking humans. Both sharks can swim far up the tropical rivers and found in rivers of Mumbai, Kochi and Hooghly.
The Delhi office of the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has a board hung to sensitise people about 11 species of river fish species, among which one is Gangetic Sharks.
According to Wildlife Protectio Act 1972 read with CrPC provisions, poaching or possessing body parts of the Gangetic sharks will award a poacher or trader 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000.

Though the glyphis group of riverine sharks were profusely poached world over, and nothing was heard about them after 19th century, it's a rare discovery, said International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural Flora and Fauna (IUCN) in a notice.
The glyphis group of sharks were first discovered in the Kinabatangan river of Borneo.
But the Gangetic sharks historically swum in fresh waters of Hooghly-Ganges river system in West Bengal. Experts believe the Gangetic sharks may also have dominated river waters of Karachi.
Said a CITES official, "These sharks are excellent under water predators in a river system. They keep ecological balance of a riverine eco-system."

End of Article

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA