- According to a recent report by the Wildlife Institute of India, there are more than 4000 dolphins in the Gangetic River basin.
- Out of the 4000 river dolphins found in the Ganga River and its tributaries, more than 2000 are found in Uttar Pradesh alone. In Uttar Pradesh, the dolphins are mainly found in the Chambal River.
- According to experts, the marked increase in the number of river dolphins in Gangetic river basins indicates that the river’s pollution level is declining and the government’s conservation effort is paying off.
Gangetic River Dolphin
- Ganges river dolphin also known as blind dolphin, Ganges susu or Hihu’s scientific name is Platanista gangetica.
- Historically, the Gangetic dolphin was found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.
- Presently, the Gangetic dolphin is found in certain stretches of India’s Ganga-Brahmaputra-Barak river system, Nepal’s Karnali, Sapta Koshi, and Narayani river systems, and Bangladesh’s Meghna, Karnaphuli, and Sangu river systems.
- Within India, it is mainly found in the mainstream of the Ganga River and its tributaries, Ghaghra, Kosi, Gandak, Chambal, Rupnarayan, and Yamuna.