GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN
- Dolphins are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks.
- The Ganges River dolphin was officially discovered in 1801.
- Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu River systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges.
- The Ganges River dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
- They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind.
- They are frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together.
- Calves are chocolate brown at birth and then have grey-brown smooth, hairless skin as adults. Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.
Major Threats
- Habitat loss /Degradation / Disturbances – Annual flood, etc.
- Changing River course.
- Inland waterways / Movement of large cargo vessels.
- Various anthropogenic / religious activities.
- Excessive harvesting/hunting/food – subsistence use/ local trade.
- Directed killing/ poaching.
- Accidental killing – by catch/ fisheries related entanglements.
- Accidental mortality – others.
- Water pollution – Agriculture related – on both the banks of River/chemical.
- Water pollution – domestic / direct disposal of sewage / non-functional treatment plants.
- Pollution – affecting habitat and/ or species, Industrial effluents.
Conservation Status
- Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule I.
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I (most endangered).