Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:20pm on 06 Apr 2025,Sunday India
India's rivers are home to 6,327 endangered dolphins, with 6,324 Gangetic and 3 Indus dolphins, a new Wildlife Institute of India survey reveals. The Gangetic dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, is found mostly in the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin. Conservationists warn of serious threats: poaching, accidental fishing net deaths, river cruise traffic, and habitat loss. Despite awareness efforts since 2009 and a recent research center, the dolphins remain vulnerable due to slow reproduction and reliance on echolocation. Experts stress that increased tourism and river noise could push the species toward extinction, mirroring the fate of China’s Baiji dolphin. (PC: Shutterstock)
