LSN News › India

World · India Bureau

Fisher's Brazen Threat to Kill Trapped Dolphin in Bihar River Sparks Outrage

A fisherman in Bihar's Saharsa district openly declared he would extract oil from a protected dolphin caught in his nets, dismissing warnings about wildlife protection laws. The exchange was captured on video by a witness.

LSN India · 24 August 2026

Fisher's Brazen Threat to Kill Trapped Dolphin in Bihar River Sparks Outrage

A young man witnessed a disturbing confrontation along the Kosi River in Saharsa district when he discovered a dolphin trapped in fishing nets. Upon informing the fisherman that the dolphin is a protected aquatic species and its hunting is illegal under Indian wildlife law, the man's response was shocking.

The fisherman allegedly showed complete disregard for the warning, asserting that he intended to extract oil from the trapped animal regardless of its protected status. The callous statement prompted the witness to document the entire exchange on his mobile phone.

The incident highlights the persistent threat to the Ganges river dolphin, an endangered species found in the Kosi and other major rivers of northern India. Despite legal protections, these freshwater cetaceans remain vulnerable to poaching, accidental entanglement in fishing nets, and deliberate killing by those seeking to profit from their body parts.

The video evidence of the fisherman's admission provides authorities with documentation to pursue potential wildlife protection violations. The case underscores ongoing challenges faced by environmental enforcement agencies in preventing illegal activities against protected species in the region.