Indus River Dolphin

Indus River Dolphin Latest News

Recently, it was observed that conservation reserves, citizen science, and habitat protection gives the Indus River dolphin a fighting chance in India.

About Indus River Dolphin

• The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is one of the rarest mammals.
• Appearance
  • It has the long, pointed nose characteristic of all river dolphins.
  • The teeth are visible in both the upper and lower jaws even when the mouth is closed. 
• Distribution: It presently only occurs in the Indus River system, along with a remnant population in the Beas River.
• Features of Indus River Dolphin
  • It is functionally blind. It has extremely reduced eyes without lenses.
  • Instead of vision, it relies entirely on echolocation to navigate, hunt and avoid obstacles in the highly turbid waters.
  • It has a remarkable trait of swimming predominantly on its side.
  • This allows it to use its long, sensitive snout to probe the riverbed for prey. Side-swimming is extremely rare among cetaceans and is a signature feature of this species.
  • It lives largely solitary or in very small groups (typically mother-calf pairs).
  • Diet: These are carnivores (piscivores). They feed on a variety of fish and crustaceans, including prawns, carp, catfish, and gobies.
• Threats: Water pollution, poaching, fragmentation of habitat due to barrages
• Conservation Status

• • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I

Source: DTE

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