India’s longest and most sacred river, the Ganges, is home to thousands of unique river dolphins. But their survival hangs in the balance.

Unlike ocean dolphins, these creatures don’t leap through the air or swim upright. Gangetic dolphins glide sideways, spend much of their time underwater, and are nearly blind. With long snouts and a slow, quiet presence, they’ve adapted to life in murky, shallow rivers.

These are Gangetic dolphins, a species of freshwater dolphin found primarily in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system in northern India. Recognised as India’s national aquatic animal, they play a vital role in the river ecosystem.

A recent survey by the Wildlife Institute of India counted 6,327 river dolphins in India—6,324 Gangetic and just three Indus dolphins. The Indus dolphin is more common in Pakistan, as the Indus River flows through both countries.

Both species are listed as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making this survey a crucial benchmark in efforts to protect them. Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the study covered 58 rivers across 10 Indian states and marks the first comprehensive count of its kind.

River dolphins are often called “living fossils.” Scientists believe they descended from marine ancestors millions of years ago. When the sea once covered parts of South Asia, some dolphins ventured inland. As the seas receded, they remained in freshwater environments, evolving traits suited for life in muddy rivers.

Despite their fascinating history, the species faces numerous threats. Since 1980, over 500 river dolphins have died in India—many entangled in fishing nets or killed intentionally.

Conservationist Ravindra Kumar Sinha says awareness about these dolphins was minimal until the early 2000s. In 2009, the Gangetic dolphin was declared India’s national aquatic animal to encourage conservation. Since then, government initiatives like the 2020 action plan and the opening of a dedicated research centre in 2024 have helped protect the species and support population recovery.

Still, challenges remain. Dolphins continue to be hunted for their meat and blubber, which is used to make oil for fishing bait. Others die after getting caught in fishing lines or hit by boats. Often, fishermen who accidentally kill dolphins don’t report it for fear of legal consequences.

Under Indian wildlife laws, any dolphin death—accidental or intentional—is considered hunting and carries serious penalties. To avoid prosecution, some fishermen choose to dispose of the bodies quietly.

Adding to the risk is the growth of river cruise tourism. In the last decade, the number of cruises on the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers has risen sharply, disrupting the dolphins’ natural habitat.

“There’s no doubt that disturbances from cruises will gravely impact the dolphins, which are sensitive to noise,” conservationist Ravindra Kumar Sinha said.

Mr. Sinha warns that increased vessel traffic could lead to the same fate as the Baiji dolphin in China’s Yangtze River, which went extinct due to human interference.

River dolphins are also vulnerable because of how they’ve evolved. Nearly blind, they use echolocation—sending out high-frequency sound pulses and listening for the echoes to sense their surroundings. This technique works well in murky waters but is no match for the noise pollution and hazards of modern river life.

Their physical limitations, such as slow swimming speeds and limited vision, make them easy targets for boat collisions. They also reproduce slowly, with females giving birth to a single calf every two to three years after maturing between six and ten years of age.

Despite the dangers, Mr. Sinha remains optimistic. He believes that with continued conservation efforts, increased awareness, and better enforcement of wildlife laws, the future for India’s river dolphins can still be bright.

“Government initiatives have played a big role in saving the dolphins. A lot has been done but a lot more remains to be done too,” he says.

 

 

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