Ganga River Dolphins on the Verge of Extinction: Government

A 10 ft dead dolphin that was found near Marine Drive in Mumbai in April last year. (Photo: PTI)

The population of Ganga river dolphins has declined considerably and they are on the verge of extinction, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

As reported by the Ministry of Water Resource, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the Ganga river Dolphins are distributed in the Gangetic, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Karnaphuli and Sangu river systems in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and their population has declined considerably. They are on the verge of extinction.

Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State for Agriculture

The Water Resource Ministry has informed that the total population of the Ganga river dolphin is estimated to be between 2,500 – 3,000 in its entire distribution range, out of which more than 80 per cent is within the Indian territory, he said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

According to the Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun, this species is facing a series of threats for survival in recent years, the Minister said.

Various organisations like WII and the Environment Ministry have informed that activities like construction of dams and barrages, embankments etc besides unsustainable obstruction of river water and sand mining among others are mainly responsible for shrinking of habitat and decline of Ganga river dolphins.