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Site description (2004 baseline):

A 60 km stretch of the River Ganga extending from Sultanganj, eastward to Kahalgaon has been notified as the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. During monsoon, the river inundates a vast floodplain and the river course also changes a bit. There are many small sandbars inhabited by birds. They serve as breeding grounds for many birds, especially the section from Sultamour to Bhagalpur, a 36 km stretch, which seems to be a paradise for birds and other aquatic animals.

AVIFAUNA: This site has been selected as an IBA due to the presence of hundreds of Indian Skimmers Rynchops albicollis. Globally threatened species such as the Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius and Lesser Adjutant L. javanicus are also present. Other storks present are the Black Ciconia nigra, Black-necked Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, White-necked Ciconia episcopus, and the Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans. The Sanctuary is rich in waders. Common Crane Grus grus, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and various ducks are also seen here.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: The River Ganga is the lifeline of north India and the Gangetic Dolphin Platanista gangetica epitomizes its life and the wealth of biodiversity in India. This is the only Dolphin Sanctuary to be declared in India. Listed by IUCN as Endangered, included in Appendix-II of CITES, and placed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the dolphin enjoys a high level of protection, nationally and internationally. Yet its numbers continue to decline due to continuing developmental pressures on its habitat.

MAIN THREATS: Agricultural chemical runoff; Fishing; Transportation.

Little needs to be said regarding the importance of Ganga for the millions of people who depend upon it for drinking, irrigation, fishing, transport and many other activities. These human activities, especially fishing and transportation, are a severe threat to avian and other biodiversity in and around the river. The Government is also planning a water transportation project, that would disturb the whole Sanctuary. Use of modern techniques such as gill nets has severely affected the fish and other aquatic species, reducing the population drastically. Sewage and effluents are another major threat that pollute the river. All these factors call for serious concern as they threaten the biodiversity of the river.

Key contributors: Sandeep Behera, Arvind Mishra and R. K. Sinha.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vikramshila-gangetic-dolphin-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/11/2024.