India’s First Nationwide Dolphin Survey

Context:

The first-ever comprehensive survey of river dolphins has revealed a population estimate of 6,327 dolphins mainly in the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus river basins across eight Indian states. 

🐬 Major Highlights of the Report

India has successfully concluded its first-ever nationwide survey of river dolphins, revealing critical insights into the population and distribution of these endangered aquatic mammals:

• 6,324 Ganges river dolphins and 3 Indus river dolphins were recorded.
• The survey covered the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Beas, and their tributaries.
• Led by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with State Forest Departments, this initiative was conducted under Project Dolphin, launched in 2020.
• The highest number of dolphins were found in Uttar Pradesh (notably in the Chambal River), followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
• The next survey is scheduled for four years later, to track population trends and conservation progress.

📡 Innovative Method: Acoustic Survey

The survey employed acoustic hydrophones — underwater microphones that detect dolphin echolocation sounds — allowing researchers to:

• Track dolphin movement without disturbing them
• Count individuals using bio-acoustic data
• Conduct assessments even in murky or fast-moving waters

🐬 India’s River Dolphins: Guardians of the Waterways

India is home to two of the world’s five freshwater dolphin species:

🔹 Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)

🔹 Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor)

Habitat: Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems
Physical Traits:

• Adults weigh 70–90 kg
• Males measure 2–2.2 m, females slightly longer at 2.4–2.6 m
• Breeding season: January to June

Behavior:

• Extremely shy and elusive
• Feed on fish and invertebrates
• Surface only occasionally for air, relying heavily on echolocation for navigation and hunting

📢 Why Dolphins Matter

• Umbrella Species: Protecting them ensures the conservation of entire river ecosystems.
• Bio-indicators: Their presence reflects a healthy, unpolluted river system.
• Their decline is a warning sign for the health of India’s freshwater resources.

🚨 Conservation Status & Threats

Status	Classification
IUCN Red List	Endangered
CITES	Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972	Schedule I

Major Threats:

• Entanglement in fishing nets
• Industrial and domestic pollution
• Habitat fragmentation (dams, barrages)
• Illegal poaching

🌊 Government Action & Conservation Efforts

✅ Project Dolphin (2020)

Promotes dolphin conservation with community involvement and awareness programs.

✅ Conservation Action Plan (2010–2020)

Provided the first structured approach to freshwater dolphin protection.

✅ Comprehensive Action Plan (2022–2047)

Long-term strategy to protect dolphins and their habitats, with a 25-year vision.

✅ National Recognition

• Ganges river dolphin is India’s National Aquatic Animal
• Identified as one of 22 critically endangered species for financial aid under the ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ scheme

✅ Protected Areas

• Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar — a key dolphin habitat

🎧 Echolocation: The Dolphin’s Sixth Sense

Dolphins are nearly blind and use echolocation to survive:

• Emit ultrasonic clicks, twitters, and bursts
• Listen to echoes bouncing off prey and objects
• Navigate, hunt, and communicate using sound
• Researchers use these sounds for non-invasive population surveys

🧭 Conclusion: A Call to Action

This groundbreaking survey not only marks a milestone in India’s biodiversity research but also reinforces the urgency to protect our rivers and their remarkable inhabitants. The Ganges and Indus dolphins are more than species — they are sentinels of freshwater health, and their survival is intertwined with that of our rivers and communities.

India has taken the first big leap. The journey of conservation must continue, louder and stronger.

CBL Practice Questions for Prelims

. Consider the following pairs:

Wildlife                             Naturally  found in

1. Blue-finned Mahseer:  Cauvery River

2. Irrawaddy Dolphin:      Chambal River

3. Rusty-spotted Cat:        Eastern Ghats

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c)  

CBL Mains Practice Question

“The conservation of river dolphins is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for maintaining the ecological integrity of freshwater ecosystems in India.” Discuss the significance of the recent nationwide dolphin survey and evaluate the role of government initiatives like Project Dolphin in ensuring the survival of these endangered species.

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