Second Range-Wide Survey of Riverine and Estuarine Dolphins Begins in India

The Union Environment Ministry has launched the second range-wide survey of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin, starting from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The survey, conducted in phases, covers the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, tributaries, Sundarbans, and Odisha, assessing Ganges, Indus, and Irrawaddy dolphins along with habitat conditions and threats. Building on the 2021-23 survey that estimated 6,327 dolphins, this expanded effort aims to update population data and support conservation planning with scientific evidence.