Wild Ganges River Dolphin: Critically Endangered Freshwater Cetacean

The Ganges river dolphin is one of only a few freshwater dolphin species and faces severe welfare and conservation threats from river development, pollution, fishing bycatch, and illegal hunting across its South Asian range.

Key Facts

Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica) are classified as Endangered with fewer than 4,000 individuals.
They are functionally blind — eyes lack lenses — and navigate entirely through echolocation.
River dolphins are among the most endangered mammals globally, with multiple species having become extinct or near-extinct.
Dams and barrages fragment populations, preventing gene flow and trapping individuals in deteriorating habitat.
Entanglement in fishing nets is the primary human-caused mortality source.
River dolphin blubber and oil are used as fish bait in some communities, driving illegal hunting.
The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Welfare Considerations

Ganges river dolphin welfare is severely compromised by the degraded state of the rivers they inhabit. Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial effluent, and human waste reduces water quality and prey availability. Entanglement in fishing gear causes drowning — the acute welfare emergency — while dam construction causes chronic habitat degradation affecting entire populations. The species' reliance on echolocation means that industrial noise in rivers is particularly harmful, interfering with foraging and navigation. Effective conservation requires integrated river basin management that addresses water quality, flow regulation, fishing practices, and noise pollution simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support WWF India and the Gangetic Dolphin Conservation Alliance in river dolphin protection.
Advocate for mitigation of dam impacts through fish passes and environmental flow provisions.
Support Ganges and Brahmaputra river pollution reduction through clean water advocacy.
Learn about the role of river dolphins as flagship species for entire freshwater ecosystem health.