The rivers of South Asia are home to two distinct and endangered subspecies of river dolphins: the Indus and the Ganges river dolphin. These fascinating creatures have adapted to their unique aquatic environments and are known for their extended snouts and echolocation capabilities. Both are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Indus river dolphin, endemic to Pakistan, saw a ban on hunting in the 1970s, and while their numbers have increased, the population remains small. They are now threatened by habitat loss due to water diversion, population fragmentation, and bycatch. The Ganges river dolphin, found in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, has a higher population but still faces serious threats, including pollution, habitat fragmentation, and bycatch. Major infrastructure projects in their region could lead to future catastrophic population declines.
Photo: Grant Abel
The NMMF recognizes the urgency of preserving these endangered river dolphins and is actively involved in their conservation through our Operation GRACE efforts. To address the conservation issues, we are collaborating with species experts and local organizations in Pakistan to rescue river dolphins trapped in canals, providing technical veterinary support, and helping to gather essential data on the health and reproductive status of these species. This effort aims to enhance the survivability of the dolphins by increasing our understanding of population dynamics, filling critical-data gaps, building local veterinary capacity, and improving conservation measures.