India has declared the dolphin as its national aquatic animal.

The Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said, “Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphin as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga.”

Dolphin found in Ganga is also called Susu in India.

Ramesh said the announcement came after the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by Prime Minister in chair.

Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister had proposed naming dolphins as national aquatic animal at the meeting and the Prime Minister accepted his suggestion.

Ramesh pointed out Dolphin’s significance in aquatic life, ‘Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolizes greater bio diversity in the river system,’ Ramesh added.