Ganges River Dolphin Conservation

The Ganges river dolphin (susu) is one of the world's most endangered river dolphins, facing threats from entanglement, pollution, and habitat loss across South Asia.

Key Facts

Fewer than 2,500 Ganges river dolphins remain in the wild
The species is essentially blind, navigating entirely by echolocation
Gillnet entanglement is the leading cause of human-related mortality
Industrial pollution, including heavy metals, accumulates in dolphin tissues
Irrigation barrages fragment habitat and trap dolphins in isolated river sections
Ganges river dolphins are protected under Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act
They were declared India's National Aquatic Animal in 2009
Population surveys use acoustic monitoring due to the dolphins' elusive nature

Welfare Considerations

Ganges river dolphins caught in fishing nets experience intense fear and physical trauma as they struggle to breathe. Drowning is slow and agonizing for an air-breathing mammal. Pollution exposure causes tissue damage and organ impairment over years. River fragmentation forces dolphins into smaller, lower-quality habitats with reduced prey availability, causing chronic nutritional stress. The combined pressures on this species represent a welfare crisis for an intelligent, socially complex mammal.

What You Can Do

Support the Gangetic Dolphin Conservation Alliance
Advocate for stronger enforcement of existing dolphin protection laws
Promote fishing gear modifications that reduce entanglement risk
Support river cleanup initiatives reducing industrial pollution
Educate communities along the Ganges about dolphin conservation