Marine Animals

Freshwater Dolphin Conservation and Welfare

River dolphins including the Amazon pink dolphin and Ganges river dolphin face extinction from pollution, bycatch, and dam construction.

Key Facts

Only five species of freshwater river dolphin survive, all classified as endangered or critically endangered
The Yangtze river dolphin or baiji was declared functionally extinct around 2006
Ganges and Indus river dolphins are blinded by turbid water and navigate by echolocation alone
Bycatch in fishery nets and deliberate killing for bait are major mortality sources
River dolphins cannot adapt to marine environments, making freshwater habitat essential

Welfare Considerations

River dolphins face multiple simultaneous welfare threats: entanglement in fishing gear causing drowning, deliberate killing, dam barriers preventing movement to seasonal habitats, and severe pollution degrading their sensory and physical environment. Their social complexity and intelligence means these threats cause psychological as well as physical suffering. Emergency conservation is required to prevent further extinctions.

What You Can Do

Support river dolphin conservation organizations working on specific populations
Advocate for fishery gear modification to reduce river dolphin bycatch
Oppose dam construction in critical river dolphin habitat without adequate mitigation
Reduce use of products causing industrial river pollution in dolphin range countries
Raise awareness about freshwater dolphin extinction crisis as an overlooked conservation emergency