Guwahati Gets Official Animal Icon, Names River Dolphin as Mascot

Guwahati: The Assam state capital on Monday became the first city in the country to have its own City Animal with the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration declaring the Gangetic River Dolphin as the mascot.

In a press conference, Kamrup Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu said that the animal, locally known as 'Sihu', would be the 'City Animal' of Guwahati.

Along with Gangetic River Dolphin, the other two animals were Black Softshell Turtle (Bor Kaso) and Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila).

While less than 2,000 Gangetic River Dolphins remain in the Brahmaputra along Guwahati, a recent survey said only a small population of Black Softshell Turtle were found in the river and its tributaries.

While Greater Adjutant Stork got 18,454 votes, Black Softshell Turtle was the choice of 17,302 people. In the off-line voting, 76 schools and colleges across Guwahati participated.