NEW DELHI: The Centre has declared dolphins a national aquatic animal in order to save the rare freshwater species from disappearing from the country's aqua map.

"Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphins as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga in the country," Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told mediapersons here.

He said the decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to streamline steps to rejuvenate the river Ganga.

"Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had proposed naming dolphins as national aquatic animal at the meeting which was approved by the Authority," Ramesh said.