Read the following statements about the Gangetic River Dolphin and choose the correct option: Statement 1: India has conducted its first-ever "Ganges River Dolphin tagging project" in Assam. Statement 2: These dolphins can live in both rivers and oceans. Statement 3: Most of the world's Ganges dolphins are found in India.

The correct answer is Only 1 and 3 are correct . Key Points Statement 1 describes a significant conservation milestone where the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) launched the first-ever satellite tagging project for the Ganges River Dolphin in the Kuli River , a tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam . This initiative aims to track movement patterns and health in real-time. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 suggests that these mammals can inhabit both freshwater and marine environments; however, the Ganges River Dolphin is an obligate freshwater species . They lack the salt-excreting glands required to survive in oceans and are biologically restricted to the river systems of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu basins. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is accurate as India is home to approximately 80% of the global population of this species, with significant numbers found in the states of Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , and West Bengal . It is the primary stronghold for their survival compared to neighboring Bangladesh or Nepal . Hence, statement 3 is correct. Additional Information Conservation Status and Biology : The Ganges River Dolphin ( Platanista gangetica ) was recognized as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009 . It is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 , providing it the highest level of legal protection. Locally called Susu , it is essentially blind and uses echolocation (ultrasonic clicks) to hunt and navigate through murky river waters. The species serves as a vital indicator species , where their presence reflects the overall ecological health and water quality of the river system. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar is India's only protected area specifically dedicated to the conservation of this freshwater mammal.