India's Dolphin Survey Reveals Population and Threats

India's first comprehensive survey of riverine dolphins, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India from 2021 to 2023, estimates a population of 6,324 Ganges River dolphins across the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and only three Indus River dolphins confined to the Beas River in Punjab. The survey highlights significant populations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with the dolphins facing threats from habitat degradation, pollution, and river obstructions. This effort, part of Project Dolphin, underscores the need for conservation in areas with sufficient water depth and minimal human interference. Notably, the survey found the highest encounter rate of dolphins in the Rupnarayan river system in West Bengal. Additionally, the Indian Sundarbans is home to 111 endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, indicating a broader ecological richness in the region. These findings emphasize the critical need for effective conservation strategies to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered species.