River dolphins are among the world's most endangered mammals, facing extinction from fishing bycatch, habitat loss, and pollution in the rivers of South America and South Asia.
River dolphins that become entangled in gill nets typically drown, as they cannot surface to breathe while trapped — a prolonged and distressing death. Those targeted intentionally for bait suffer additional pain from the killing method used. Habitat degradation through pollution, sand mining, and altered hydrology reduces prey availability and forces dolphins into areas with higher human conflict risk. The small population sizes of most river dolphin species mean that each individual death represents a significant demographic and welfare loss. Conservation efforts that reduce bycatch mortality — through modified fishing gear, seasonal closures, and community-based monitoring — directly reduce suffering as well as extinction risk.