Sentinel Digital Desk
India's first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report recorded 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in eight states. Assam ranked fourth with 635 dolphins found in its rivers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the report during his visit to Gir National Park. The survey covered 8,500 km of rivers over 3,150 man-days, making it a pioneering effort in wildlife conservation.
River dolphins in Assam are found in the Brahmaputra, Subansiri, and Kulsi rivers. However, threats like hydroelectric projects on the Subansiri and sand mining in the Kulsi river put them at risk.
In 2008, the riverine or Gangetic dolphin was declared Assam's state aquatic animal. Since then, conservation efforts by the government and organizations have aimed to protect this endangered species.
Earlier, river dolphins were hunted for their oil. Now, human activities like sand mining, pollution, and dam construction pose serious threats to their survival, affecting their habitat and food sources.
The survey was conducted under Project Dolphin, covering the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems. Ganges river dolphins are found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, while Indus river dolphins inhabit the Indus River system.