India's first river dolphin survey reports 6,327

New Delhi

India’s first-ever population estimation of river dolphins has recorded 6,327 dolphins in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems, as per a government report released on Monday.

Ganges and Indus River Dolphins

The Ganges River dolphin, known for its distinctive features, is found across the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system and its tributaries in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. A smaller population of the Indus River dolphin, a close relative, inhabits the Indus River system in India.

Project Dolphin and Survey Findings

Under "Project Dolphin," a large-scale survey was conducted across eight states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and Punjab. The study covered over 8,000 km from 2021 to 2023, assessing 58 rivers. It estimated 6,327 Ganges River dolphins (range: 5,977-6,688) and three Indus River dolphins.

Conservation Efforts

The findings highlight that dolphins thrive in deep waters with minimal human disturbances. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Project Dolphin on August 15, 2020, to conserve these endangered species and their habitats. Experts emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, as river dolphins grow slowly and live in vulnerable freshwater ecosystems.