SUKKUR, Jan 14: Officials of the Sindh Wildlife Department, Lahore Zoo and WWF-Pakistan launched a join rescue operation to trace strayed Indus dolphins in the Khirthar Canal on Friday.

About 15 dolphins including, 14 cubs of age three to five years and a mother dolphin, were rescued during the operation. Wildlife officials said two dolphins sustained injuries during the operation and died due to excessive bleeding.

Hundreds of people of the area witnessed the rescue operation. This was the biggest ever operation in the history of Sindh in which a large number of dolphins were saved.

The Indus dolphin is facing problems due to water scarcity in the Indus River. Over exploitation of fish, its staple food, and large scale pollution due to industrial effluent, hydel power stations and sewerage water have made its habitat in the river vulnerable.

According to experts, who participated in the rescue operation, the Indus dolphin, which consumes 1,000 to 1,200 grams fish daily, is facing food shortage. They said they were leaving their habitat in search of food and stranding into canals. They said this year the repair of Sukkur barrage spans was another cause of leaving the habitat.