Dolphin found dead in haor

A dead giant Gangetic dolphin was recovered from Ashtagram Haor in Kishoreganj on Friday morning, but the animal was cut up and distributed among local people before authorities could examine or identify it conclusively.

Fishermen initially mistook the animal for a large fish after spotting its body underwater near Ikurdia Ghat in Ashtagram Haor. They later suspected it was a dolphin, tied it with a rope and brought it ashore.

However, before the animal could be properly identified, local people cut it into pieces and distributed the meat among at least 100 people. Some fishermen said residents later cooked and ate the meat.

A few photographs taken before the animal was cut up were shown to wildlife researcher Simanta Dipu. After examining the photographs, he told The New Nation that the animal appeared to be a Gangetic dolphin, scientifically known as Platanista gangetica.

The incident occurred near Ikurdia Ghat, where local residents said water from the haor connects with the Dhaleshwari River during the rainy season.

Fishermen spot animal while returning from market
According to local fishermen, several fishermen from Rangpurhati village in West Ashtagram went fishing in the haor on Thursday night.

The following morning, they travelled by boat to Nasirnagar market in neighbouring Brahmanbaria to sell their catch. While returning, they noticed an unusually large animal underwater near Ikurdia Ghat at around 10am.

After stopping their boat and observing it for some time, they realised that the animal was dead. Some of them then entered the water, tied the body with a rope and dragged it to the shore.

News of the discovery quickly spread, drawing a crowd of curious local residents to the spot.
The animal was estimated to weigh around two and a half maunds. As the fishermen were unable to determine exactly what it was, they discussed the matter among themselves. Eventually, they decided to cut up the animal and distribute it.

Fishermen described the animal as having a grey, elongated body, a long and narrow snout, broad fin-like front limbs and other features resembling a dolphin.

Noab Miah of Rangpurhati village, who was among those on the fishing boat, said he was the first to notice the animal.

“I first saw it. We stopped the boat and saw it was dead. Later, we tied it with a rope and brought it to the bank,” he said.

Asked whether the Fisheries Department had been informed, Noab said he did not know that the matter needed to be reported.

“I have been fishing for 23 years. I had never seen such an animal in the haor before. So I had no idea what to do after finding it,” he said.

Meat distributed and eaten
Local fisherman Junaid Miah said the animal had already been divided among people.
“The fish has been divided and taken away. Many have cooked and eaten it. Now there is no point in knowing whether it can be eaten or not,” he said.

Experts identify it as Gangetic dolphin
Kishoreganj District Fisheries Officer Md Shahidul Islam said the animal appeared to be a Gangetic dolphin and clarified that it was not a fish but an aquatic mammal.

He said Gangetic dolphins generally inhabit rivers and estuarine areas and can sometimes move upstream from their usual habitats for various reasons, including pollution and changes in their environment.

According to the fisheries officer, the animal could have died because it was unable to adapt to the conditions in the haor. It could also have been injured or killed by a boat propeller or other machinery.
However, the fishermen said they had not noticed any visible injuries on the animal’s body.

Shahidul Islam said laboratory tests would be necessary to determine the exact cause of death and to conclusively establish whether the animal was a Gangetic dolphin.

“But there is no opportunity to conduct those examinations now because the animal has already been cut up,” he said.

On the consumption of its meat, the fisheries officer said that although related aquatic mammals are consumed in some countries, eating Gangetic dolphins is not a common practice in Bangladesh and people generally do not know how to process or consume their meat safely.

Critically endangered species
Wildlife experts say the Gangetic dolphin is a critically endangered species and has disappeared from much of its former range.

The species once occurred widely in Bangladesh’s rivers, particularly until the 1990s. Wildlife researchers currently report the presence of Gangetic dolphins in around 14 rivers of the country.

The species faces growing threats from pollution, habitat degradation, reduced water flow, accidental capture in fishing gear and collisions with boats.

Experts say the discovery of the dolphin in Ashtagram Haor highlights the need for greater awareness among fishermen and local communities about the protection of endangered aquatic wildlife.

They also stress that dead or unusual aquatic animals should be reported to the Fisheries Department or wildlife authorities rather than being cut up or consumed, so that experts can identify the species and determine the cause of death.