India, Jan. 13 -- Barely 45 minutes away from Varanasi, is a patch of the Ganga that is dolphin heaven

The Ganges River Dolphin ( Platenista gangetica ) or Gangetic Dolphin, known as Sauns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, is the national aquatic animal of India. However, many Indians are unaware of this fact.

The elusive freshwater cetacean is an umbrella species of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river system and has a significant ecological importance as its presence indicates the good health of an area.

The species is listed under the 'Endangered' category of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as it is losing its habitat due to anthropogenic activities. These animals were once found in large groups called 'schools' but nowa...