New Dolphin Sanctuaries in Asian Mangrove Forest

The World

For our Geo Quiz, we are looking for a thick swamp. No, not the Everglades, though this swamp is about the same size as the Florida National Park.

This one’s a large mangrove forest in South Asia, along the coast of eastern India and southern Bangladesh.

Bengal tigers and freshwater dolphins make their home there. Two kinds of dolphins, in fact: Ganges river dolphins and Irrawaddy dolphins.

Conservationists say this mangrove forest is the only place in the world where you will find both species.

Both dolphins are endangered, fishermen don’t target them, but they get caught in nets and drown.

On Monday, officials in Bangladesh declared three areas in this mangrove forest dolphin sanctuaries.

So what’s the name of this newly protected swamp?

The Sundarbans forest along the southern coasts of India and Bangladesh is the answer this time. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Anbarasan Ethirajan.

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