Name of the Ramsar site: Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude): Brijghat 28^°46"0.7'N and 78^°8" 16.0'E Narora 28^°21"N and 78^°17'E
General location: Nearest town along the 85 km River Stretch from Brijghat to Narora are Ghaziabad, Bulandsahar, Badayun and Moradabad. The approximate length of the stretch from Narora to Brijghat is 82 km.

The river stretch from Bijnor to Brijghat (85 km) is included under the Hastinapur Sanctuary where as Brijghat to Narora (82 Km) has been declared as "Ramsar site" because of its rich biodiversity and wise use concept.

The entire river stretch from Brijghat to Narora is shallow with only intermittent small stretches of deep-water pools and reservoirs upstream barrages. The bank of the entire river stretch up to Narora is sandy and muddy.

All the way from Brijghat to Narora most of the ghats have religious importance. Large number of pilgrims takes holly bath, do cremation and post cremation activities. Overpopulation in the area in the recent years and subsequent population pressure for ritual activities have caused major pollution in the river.
Upper Ganga River supports mammalian species like Ganges river dolphins [Piatanista gangetica gangetica) listed in CITES, IUCN Red Listed as Endangered, common-otters [Lutra lutra), two species of crocodiles i.e. endangered Gavialis gangeticus and vulnerable Crocodylus palustris. Under the national legislation these species are protected as Schedule I of Wildlife protection Act 1972. Besides, out of 12 species of turtles identified from this stretch, 6 species are considered as endangered including Indian soft-shell turtle (Aspideretes gangeticus).
Regular surveys revealed that dolphins migrate between Bijnor and Brijghat only during the monsoon season and Brijghat and Narora during the dry season.

GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN: (Piatanista gangetica gangetica)

The dolphins are the most graceful and docile creatures of the rivers. The Ganges River Dolphin has a long beak the body is stocky with a rounded belly, the flippers are large and paddle-shaped, and there is a low triangular hump in place of a 'true' dorsal. The forehead is steep and the blowhole is on the left of the head, above the tiny, poorly-seeing eye. The tail flukes are broad in relation to the body size. Ganges River Dolphins are grey-brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish belly, and measure between 1.5 and 2.5m in length, weighing a maximum of 90Kg.

The Ganges dolphin is a charismatic species. It is an indicator species in the riverine ecosystem. The presence of the dolphin in a river system is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem as it is at the apex of the aquatic food chain and its presence in adequate number symbolizes rich biodiversity in the river system. It plays an essential part in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. Furthermore, it feeds on small size fish species, which have less economic importance, thus reducing competition for food between the highly prized fishes.

COEXISTENCE WITH OTHER AQUATIC ANIMALS:

In the study area two species of crocodiles, Gavialis gangeticus and Crocodylus palustris and 12 species of freshwater turtles were found associated with dolphins. In addition more then 100 species of wetland birds were also recorded at different stretches. Many of these animals are fish eaters and potential competitors with dolphins. Some of the carnivorous birds, especially large groups of cormorants [Phalacrocorox carbo) are competitors with dolphin as they all prefer small fishes. The river terns (Sterna aurantia) are always present where dolphins are feeding.

FISH:
A total of 82 species of fishes were identified in this dolphin habitat. Fishes like Wallago attu, Colisa fasctatus,Chanda ranga,glossogobius giuris,Nangra punctata,Puntius sophore are very frequently caught by fishermen in this area. Many of these fishes were used as food by the dolphin.

TURTLE:
Turtles in this river stretch are totally aquatic with the exception of Melanochelys trijuga, which can be found in meadows, forest paths as well as close to the villages. These freshwater turtles come out from the water for basking and nesting, which are controlled by climatic conditions. Nesting is also related to the climatic changes and the onset of nesting appears to be determined by temperature and rainfall.

CROCODILES:
Crocodiles are amphibious vertebrates spending part of their lives in water and part on dry land. The crocodile species identified from the RAMSAR SITE were Gharials and Mugger.

Gharials (Gaviaiis gangeticus)
The Gharial is a specialized fish eater with a long beak-like snout which gives it a very un-crocodile-like appearance and adult males develop a large cartilaginous protuberance on the tip of the snout, called "ghara". The animal grows more than 20 feet. It is recorded occasionally in few isolated pockets near Narora, Anupsahar and Amantikadevi in the Upper Ganga River stretch.

Mugger (Crocodylus palustris)
It is commonly seen in the embankments of Lower Ganga Canal and occasionally in some of the Islands in the Upper Ganga River. The snout is long and broad. It has four large nuchals forming a square, with a smaller one on each side. It is known to grow up-to a length of 5.5m but the average size is about 3.4m to 4.2m.
Juveniles eat crustaceans, insects and small fish generally. Adults eat larger fish, amphibians, reptiles (mainly snakes and possibly turtles), birds and mammals (e.g monkeys).

OTTERS:
The Smooth coated otter L perspicillata is recorded in the Upper Ganga River. It measures 650 -750mm and tail, which is flattened, is 400-450mm in length. The otter has a smooth sleek coat and the body colour is blackish-brown to light brown, with a rufous tinge. The sides of the neck, chin and throat are whitish.
Their waterside home range can be as lengthy as 40 km and they mark their territory with spraints (droppings) to maintain contact with their neighbours. Their lifestyle is semi-aquatic and to protect them from the cold they have sleek thick coats. Their broad tails act as rudders as they move through the water. Diet is chiefly fish but otters also take small birds, mammals and frogs.

BIRDS:
A total of 105 species of birds belonging to 34 families both aquatic and terrestrial avi-fauna were identified along with their population status of the total surveyed species. During the survey of wetland avi-fauna the maximum number of bird species recorded was Pintails (1148) followed by Brahmini ducks (1136) and minimum number of bird species sighted was Darter (2) and Black Stark (2).