A fisherman was arrested in Bihar’s Saharsa district after a video showed him catching a rare Gangetic dolphin in the Kosi River and taking it home.
The dolphin reportedly became trapped in his fishing net. Instead of releasing it, the fisherman carried it away. A local resident recorded the incident and shared the video online. In the footage, the fisherman was reportedly heard discussing extracting oil from the dolphin.
The video eventually reached forest department officials and the district administration, which registered a case against him. The fisherman could not initially be located, but after a two-day search, Bihar Police arrested him on the third day.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Om Prakash said the accused was being questioned and would later be sent to judicial custody. The forest department and police are jointly handling the case.
The incident has highlighted the strong legal protection given to Gangetic dolphins in India. Hunting or killing them is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The Gangetic dolphin is an endangered freshwater species found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system and is India's national aquatic animal. Depending on the applicable provisions, killing or hunting protected wildlife can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine.
