Uplifting1 min(s) read
Published 15:41 05 Jul 2020 GMT
A video has emerged online showing the moment a fisherman carried an endangered dolphin over his shoulder after accidentally catching the beautiful creature in his net.
The Gangetic dolphin, a species of South Asian river dolphin, became caught in the nets of local fisherman Mohammed Qayum.
The amazing video can be seen below:
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In the heartwarming video, captured on July 3, Qayum can be seen carrying the dolphin away from the nets in the Parmaan river, in Purnia, India. As he cradles the mammal, the caring fisherman can be seen untangling some rope that has become caught around the animal's tail fin.
As a crowd of people gathers and shouts at the fisherman, Qayum lowers the endangered dolphin back into the water - releasing it into safety.
One witness said: "The dolphin had strayed into the Parmaan river from the Ganges. Consequently, the aquatic mammal got entangled in the fishing net.
"A massive crowd gathered in the area to get a glimpse of the mammal.
"The villagers immediately alerted the Jalalgarh police station in-charge, Maneka Rani, and the Block Development Officer of Jalalgarh.
"A forest team department rushed to the spot and took the dolphin in their possession."
The Gangetic dolphin is of a type that lives in freshwater and rivers, and is primarily found in The Ganges - as well as its tributaries in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
They are protected under the Indian Wildlife Act and are listed by the IUCN as endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species.
