News: Prime minister has announced the launch of Project Dolphin and Project Lion to protect these species in their natural habitat in a holistic manner.
Facts:
- Project Lion: The project is aimed at conservation of India’s Asiatic Lions.It will focus on habitat development, engaging technologies in lion management and addressing the issues of disease in lions.
- Aisatic Lion: They are confined to Gir National Park and its surrounding environments in Gujarat’s Saurashtra district.
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I
- CITES: Appendix I
- Project Dolphin: The project is aimed at the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphins – both riverine as well as the oceanic dolphins in India.
- Gangetic river dolphin: It is India’s national aquatic animal found in parts of the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra river systems in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I.
