Guwahati becomes first city in India to get its own mascot - It`s Dolphin

Guwahati: Dolphin on Monday became Assam state capital's mascot with Kamrup Metropolitan district administration declaring the Gangetic river mammal as the mascot.

The announcement was made at a press conference today. At the presser, Kamrup Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu said that the animal, locally known as 'Sihu', would be the 'city animal' of Guwahati.

Now, Guwahati has become the first city in the country to have its own 'city animal'.

Two other animals, Black Softshell Turtle (Bor Kaso) and Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila) were also in running.

Greater Adjutant Stork got 18,454 votes and Black Softshell Turtle was the choice of 17,302 people.

Reports said that 76 schools and colleges across Guwahati participated in the off-line voting.

Less than 2,000 Gangetic River Dolphins are said to be remaining in the Brahmaputra along Guwahati.

Other organisations such as Assam Forest Department, Assam State Biodiversity Board and an NGO Help Earth worked closely to decide the City Animal apart from Kamrup Metropolitan district administration.