PRAYAGRAJ, April 9 -- In an effort to protect the endangered Ganga dolphin, the forest department in Prayagraj has launched a special conservation drive under the Namami Gange Programme. A dedicated team called "Dolphin Friends" has been formed to monitor dolphin habitats and involve local communities, especially fishermen, in conservation work, officials said. The Ganga is known for its rich biodiversity, and the presence of dolphins is seen as a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Divisional forest officer Arvind Kumar Yadav said the dolphin population in the Prayagraj stretch has risen to 139, showing improvement in water quality. Citing a recent survey by the Wildlife Institute of India, Yadav said there are 5,689 dolphins in the Ganga and 635 in the Brahmaputra river. This is a sharp increase from 3,275 recorded in 2021. UP alone accounts for 2,397 dolphins. Following the report, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma ordered a special action plan, which has now been prepared. The survey identified key dolphin habitats in stretches across Patna, Prayagraj and Fatehpur. The second phase of this year's dolphin survey is currently under way and is expected to give updated figures. In Prayagraj, dolphins are mostly found near river bends at Phaphamau, Chhatnag and Meja. Authorities have strengthened monitoring and security in these areas. Teams have been assigned duties and asked to submit regular reports. The Ganga dolphin, India's national aquatic animal, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Under Project Dolphin, a small group of "Dolphin Friends" has already been deployed in Prayagraj, with plans to expand the team. Officials said awareness campaigns are being carried out among fishermen and boatmen. Regular monitoring drives are also being conducted under the supervision of these volunteers. Experts say dolphins survive only in clean water. Noted scientist and Padma Shri awardee Ajay Kumar Sonkar said the rise in dolphin numbers in the Prayagraj-Fatehpur stretch shows better water quality and a healthier ecosystem....