Second Nationwide Dolphin Census Launched to Assess Riverine and Estuarine Populations

The Union Ministry of Environment has launched the second nationwide dolphin census under Project Dolphin, starting from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The survey covers riverine and estuarine dolphins, including Ganges, Indus, and Irrawaddy species, across major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Sundarbans. Coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India with partner organizations, it aims to update population estimates, assess habitats, threats such as fishing practices and pollution, and support conservation planning. The first survey (2021-23) recorded 6,327 dolphins, with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar having the highest numbers.