The endangered river dolphin, found in the Brahmaputra river system, was declared as the State aquatic animal of Asom today. The formal declaration was made by Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a function organised by the State Forest department and the State Pollution Control Board to mark World Environment Day. A sustained campaign was launched by nature lovers of the State to get an official status for the river dolphins as that would help in the conservation activities of this highly endangered species. The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), which is among the three last surviving river dolphin species in the world, is found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system, primarily in India and Bangladesh. As per the latest survey on river dolphins in the Brahmaputra system conducted in 2005, there were 250 dolphins in the entire valley, with 27 in the 76-km stretch of Kulsi river, 26 in the Subansiri river and 197 in the 856 km-long Brahmaputra mainstream (from Asom-Arunachal border to India-Bangladesh border). In his speech, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said every person should do their bit for the protection of the environment. "The State Govt has implemented lot of laws for the protection of environment. Steps have been taken to plant 1 crore tree saplings in the State,' Gogoi said. The Chief Minister further said the State can progress economically if the State's natural resources are properly looked after. "Asom is the first State in the country to have taken steps on wildlife conservation. The State Govt will float a Forest Security Force to help conserve forest and natural resources of the State,' Gogoi added. State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that 60 per cent of saplings planted are still alive in different parts of the State. He said that the Forest act might be amended as to punish tree-fellers. Meanwhile, the State Govt distributed solar lamps to 5 Goanburhas of the State. Solar lamps were distributed to Chandra Bahadur Chetri and Dipak Sarania of Lampih, Durgeswar Rabha and Subhash Rabha of Sualkuchi and Sambari Marak of Boko.