Project Dolphin
Introduction to Dolphins in India
Dolphins are integral components of aquatic ecosystems, and in India, they are found across marine, brackish, and freshwater systems. The country is home to 15 species of marine and harbor dolphins, while the Irrawaddy dolphin inhabits the brackish waters of Odisha. Among freshwater species, the most prominent is the Gangetic Dolphin, found in the Ganga River and its tributaries, whereas Indus River Dolphins are occasionally reported from the Indus River in Punjab.
- All dolphin species in India—whether marine, estuarine, or freshwater—are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, ensuring them the highest level of legal protection from hunting and trade.
Ganges River Dolphin – National Aquatic Animal
Legal and Cultural Status
- The Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) has been declared the National Aquatic Animal of India by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). It is also recognized as the State Aquatic Animal of Assam.
Biological Features
- This dolphin species is exclusively freshwater-dependent and is functionally blind. It navigates and hunts using echolocation by emitting ultrasonic sound pulses, which bounce off prey and create an “image” in its mind.
Distribution and Population
- The Ganges dolphin is mainly found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In India, their population is primarily distributed across the rivers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. As per official estimates, there are about 3,700 Ganges River Dolphins, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest population.
Conservation Status and Threats
Global Context
The Ganges Dolphin is one of the four obligate freshwater dolphins in the world, alongside:
- The ‘baiji’ of the Yangtze River (China) – now declared functionally extinct (2006),
- The ‘bhulan’ of the Indus River (Pakistan),
- The ‘boto’ of the Amazon River (Latin America).
Threats in India
Major threats to Gangetic dolphins include:
- River pollution and siltation due to urban and agricultural runoff,
- Accidental entanglement in fishing gear and poaching for oil,
- Construction of barrages and dams that fragment their habitat and isolate populations,
- Depletion of prey base due to overfishing and ecosystem degradation.
Ganges Dolphin Recovery Programme
- The Gangetic Dolphin has been included in the Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) also initiated a dolphin conservation program in 2016 to ensure the long-term survival of this species and associated aquatic fauna.
- The Conservation Action Plan for Ganges Dolphin (2020–2030) was launched by MoEF&CC, identifying various ecological threats, including river traffic, irrigation canal diversions, and habitat loss, and charting a way forward for conservation and recovery.
Project Dolphin (Launched in 2020)
Vision and Objectives
Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Project Dolphin is a 10-year-long initiative aimed at the protection and conservation of both river and marine dolphins. The project seeks to:
- Strengthen biodiversity conservation
- Support sustainable livelihoods for river-dependent communities
- Promote ecotourism and employment opportunities
Key Strategies
- Use of modern technologies for enumeration, monitoring, and anti-poaching efforts
- Community involvement, especially fishermen and river/ocean-dependent populations, in dolphin habitat protection
- Empowerment of local stakeholders to reduce river pollution and support sustainable fisheries
Institutional Support
- Establishment of the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) at Patna University, Bihar
- Creation of the Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar, as a dedicated protected habitat for the species
