New Delhi

India’s first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance under the National Mission for Clean Ganga has rescued and safely released eight Ganga dolphins within four months of its launch, officials said on Thursday while detailing its latest operation in Gonda.

According to the mission, the most recent rescue involved an adult male Ganges river dolphin that had become trapped in a canal and separated from the river system, leaving it stranded in shallow waters and in deteriorating condition.

The NMCG said teams from the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the Turtle Survival Alliance India programme responded to the situation. After nearly 13 hours of rescue efforts, the dolphin was safely retrieved, medically examined, and later released into the Rapti River.

Describing the rescue as another milestone for the initiative, the NMCG said the specialised ambulance service has become an important part of efforts to protect the endangered Ganga river dolphin under the Namami Gange Programme.

Launched in January 2026, the Dolphin Rescue Ambulance is designed as a mobile intensive care unit equipped with rescue and medical facilities aimed at responding quickly to emergencies involving injured or stranded dolphins.

Officials said the vehicle has been developed to minimise delays during rescue operations and improve survival chances for the species, which is recognised as India’s national aquatic animal.

The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river basin. According to NMCG estimates, the species currently has a population of around 6,324.

The mission stressed that every rescue plays a significant role in the conservation of the endangered species and contributes to protecting the river ecosystem.

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Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil had launched the Dolphin Rescue Ambulance earlier this year at the Wildlife Institute of India as part of the Centre’s aquatic biodiversity conservation efforts.