Good News! 12-hour rescue operation saves 6 dolphins and 2 calves from canal near Lucknow

Six endangered Gangetic River Dolphins, including two calves, were successfully rescued from the Sharda Feeder Canal, near Anchalikheda village in Lucknow’s Mohanlalganj on Wednesday. The dolphins, believed to have been washed into the canal system due to sudden water release and flash flooding, were safely relocated to the Ghaghra River in Bahraich. The joint operation was led by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department (UPFD) and the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India (TSA India).

The rescue was especially delicate, as the pod included two lactating mothers, each accompanied by a calf. Biologist Arunima Singh, who led the effort, noted that careful measures were taken to ensure the mother-calf pairs remained together throughout the rescue and release process to avoid stress and separation. In total, four adult females and two calves were carefully corralled and translocated. 

Operations were carried out during early hours to minimise heat exposure and prevent crowd disturbance. The effort involved 24 hours of on-ground reconnaissance, mock drills and overnight site monitoring, followed by a 12-hour rescue carried out by five trained response teams.

Meanwhile, the six dolphins, swept in from the Sharda Canal head due to sudden water release and were trapped as water levels dropped. Following reports from villagers, forest officials launched a rescue mission involving specialised teams and veterinary experts. The dolphins were carefully retrieved and released into their natural habitat in Barabanki's Ghaghra River.