Daily News Analysis

Gangetic dolphin – Fresh water Dolphins

stylish_lining

River dolphins are a group of freshwater cetaceans that inhabit various river systems across Asia and South America. The Six Surviving River Dolphin Species include: Amazon, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Tucuxi, and the Yangtze finless porpoise.The Chinese river dolphin was deemed 'probably extinct' in 2007.

As per the IUCN Red list, Yangtze finless porpoise are classified as Critically Endangered.Amazon, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy and Tucuxi are labeled as Endangered.

Note: The Yangtze finless porpoise is the world’s only freshwater porpoise but it is included with the other freshwater cetaceans under the umbrella name ‘river dolphins’.

The Amazon river dolphin also known as the pink river dolphin or boto is the largest river dolphin.

 

About Gangetic River dolphin

The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801.They were declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.

Freshwater species:The Gangetic river dolphin is one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world. 

The other three are the baiji, now likely extinct from the Yangtze River in China, the bhulan of the Indus in Pakistan and the boto of the Amazon River in Latin America.

Habitat:

  • Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh
    • But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges.
  • The distribution range of the Ganges river dolphins in India covers seven states namely, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Characteristics:

  • The Ganges river dolphins can only live in freshwater and are essentially blind.
  • They are frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together.
  • Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.
  • The Dolphin cannot breathe in the water. It surfaces every 30-120 seconds to breathe in fresh air as it is a mammal.
  • Navigation and hunting through a highly developed ‘sonar system’, using echolocation (ultrasonic sounds).

Different names:

They are also known as Susu, Hihu, Blind dolphin, Ganga river dolphin, side swimming dolphin and South Asian river dolphin

They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to see an image in their mind.

IUCN Status: Ganges river dolphins are listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.

Environmental significance

  • They are an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. 
  • They are the apex predators in the freshwater food chain and their presence indicates that the water is clean and there is a good number of prey species such as fish, turtles, crustaceans etc. 

Threats

  • Dam creation, barrages, irrigation projects and fishing are activities that are dividing and isolating populations of the Ganga river dolphin, significantly reducing its range.
  • Poachers kill them for their flesh, fat and oil. They are also sometimes injured by machines in the water or accidentally caught in fishing nets. 

Katarnia wildlife sanctuary

  • It is situated in the Upper Gangetic plain falling in the Terai of Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.
    • It is part of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Lakhimpur kheri. 
  1. provides strategic connectivity between the tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and Nepal.
  2. is home to a number of endangered species including gharial, tiger, rhino, Gangetic dolphin, Swamp deer, Hispid hare, Bengal florican, the White-backed and Long-billed vultures.

 

Global Declaration for River Dolphins

Recently, 11 Asian and South American countries signed a landmark deal in Bogota, Colombia to save the world’s six surviving species of river dolphins from extinction.This landmark deal signifies a ray of hope in combating the severe decline of river dolphin populations, which have dwindled by a staggering 73% since the 1980s.

Global Declaration for River Dolphins?

The Global Declaration for River Dolphins aims to halt the decline of all river dolphin species and bolster the most vulnerable populations through concerted efforts.It outlines measures such as eradicating gillnets, reducing pollution, expanding research initiatives, and creating protected areas to safeguard the remaining river dolphin species.

Countries that adopted the declaration include: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and Venezuela.

There was also a representative from the regional government in Indonesia that has responsibility for the Mahakam river.

Foundational Pillars:

  • The eight foundational pillars of the Global Declaration for River Dolphins comprise initiatives like establishing a network of protected areas, improving river dolphin site management, expanding research and monitoring efforts, engaging local communities and Indigenous Peoples, eradicating unsustainable fishing practices, enhancing water quality and quantity, promoting World River Dolphin Day (24th October) to raise awareness, and augment resource allocation and partnerships.

 

Challenges Faced by River Dolphins:

River dolphins are threatened by diverse factors, including unsustainable fishing practices, hydropower dam construction, pollutionfrom various industries, agriculture, and mining, as well as habitat loss.Also, the recent tragic deaths of over 150 river dolphins in the drought-stricken Lake Tefe in the Amazon illustrate how climate change poses an increasingly severe threat to their survival.

Successful Conservation Efforts:

Conservation efforts in populated river basins like the Indus and Yangtze have seen success.

  • For instance, the Indus river dolphin population in Pakistan doubled due to joint stakeholder action.
  • Additionally, the Yangtze finless porpoises witnessed a 23% increase in numbers owing to protective measures.

Moreover, the World Wildlife Fund's electronic pinger project saved 80 dolphins in Indonesia's Mahakam river from gill net entanglement.

Local Governance in India

The Panchayati Raj system and municipal bodies serve as the first point of contact between citizens and the state. However, grassroots governance in India often struggles with inaccessible, detail
Share It

China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra

China is constructing a massive 60,000 MW hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River (called the Brahmaputra in India and Jamuna in Bangladesh), located in Tibet near Gelling in Arunachal Prad
Share It

India Hosts 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

India recently hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, focusing on enhancing maritime connectivity and sustainable development across the Bay of Bengal region. This event underscor
Share It

Manipur Crisis

The ongoing crisis in Manipur, which has now lasted for over two years, has resulted in over 250 deaths and widespread displacement, yet it has not received the same level of national priority as
Share It

Road Safety in India

India is at a pivotal moment in its mobility transformation. While the country’s growing road infrastructure and urbanization offer numerous opportunities, they also present significant chal
Share It

India Africa

India and Africa are building a robust and evolving partnership, particularly in the realm of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which holds tremendous potential to boost socio-economic developm
Share It

Mangrove Ecosystems

The International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, observed annually on 26th July, serves as a vital reminder of the urgent need to protect mangroves, which are disappearing at an alar
Share It

Food Security and Nutrition

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report presents a mixed picture of global progress in combating hunger, highlighting both positive trends and pressing challenges,
Share It

The ‘Rising Northeast

The Investor Summit 2025’ organized by the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) in New Delhi is a major event aimed at showcasing the immense investment and trade potentia
Share It

India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

Launched in 2015, India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was conceived to tackle urban challenges using technology and sustainable development practices. The mission has witnessed significant inve
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS