Indus River Dolphin

Indus River Dolphin

News: Recently, Punjab's wildlife preservation wing has batted for conservation of Indus River dolphins and also their natural habitat. The Indus River dolphin was declared the State aquatic animal of Punjab in 2019.

Details:
• Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica minor
• According to a recent study of South Asian River dolphins, Indus and Ganges River dolphins are not one, but two separate species. Currently, they are classified as two subspecies under Platanista gangetica.
• Like other freshwater dolphins (such as Ganges river dolphins) , the Indus river dolphin is an important indicator of the health of a river.
• Other dolphins found in Indian waters include: Ganges River Dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins.
• They can only be found in the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan and in River Beas, a tributary of the Indus River in Punjab, India.
• Threats to Indus River Dolphins include Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, Dams & water management/use, Domestic & urban waste water, Industrial & military effluents, Agricultural & forestry effluents.
• Conservation Status:
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES): Appendix I
• Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule I