LARKANA: A group of villagers bathing in the Wassand Shakh (branch), an offshoot of Warah Canal, on Thursday captured a three-foot-long dolphin weighing around 30kg that had gone astray into shallow water from the Indus.

They informed the wildlife department that they and some farmers working in the nearby fields spotted the dolphin in the irrigation channel near Sobh Ji Wandh village, some 20km from Larkana city. The dolphin was taken into custody by Gada Hussain Junejo, who later released it into a deep fish pond and told local reporters that wildlife officials must arrange its release into the Indus to ensure survival of the rare fish species.

Indus dolphin is regarded as amongst the rarest animals in the world. The species is found in the Sukkur region and is often captured, alive or dead, by fishermen, who would release the alive ones into Indus.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2017