What is the Ganges River Dolphin?
In the murky waters of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna (GBM) River Basin, a silent extinction is unfolding. The Ganges River Dolphin, a creature as mysterious as it is rare, is fighting to survive. Nearly blind and adapted solely to freshwater, this unique dolphin is born a deep chocolate brown, fading over time to a smooth, grey-brown hue. As it navigates the river currents, it relies on echolocation to find its way, making it a fascinating yet vulnerable resident of these waters.
Dependent on thriving fish populations and clean, flowing rivers, the dolphin’s survival is a measure of the health of the rivers that sustain millions. Yet, this iconic species is endangered, facing an uncertain future across its range. Once plentiful, it is now listed as endangered globally by the IUCN Red List, vulnerable in Bangladesh, endangered in India, and critically endangered in Nepal.
Stretching across 13,500 kilometers (about 8388.51 mi) and eight countries, the dolphin’s habitat has seen a staggering decline of nearly 20% since the 1800s. In a recent survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)through 1,905 kilometers (about 1183.71 mi) over 30 days, documenting 636 groups of these dolphins and establishing a baseline population of around 1,352 dolphins. For conservationists and local communities, this number serves as both a benchmark and a rallying call—a reminder of what could be lost without immediate action.
The fate of the Ganges River Dolphin is closely tied to the future of the rivers themselves. Protecting this species is about more than just preserving an endangered animal; it’s about ensuring the health of entire ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
Gangetic Dolphin & Human Interactions
In a recent survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), nearly 300 fishers described dolphins as their “friends in the river.” Not only are these fishers aware of the threats facing the Ganges River Dolphin, but many are also prepared to act in times of distress. Over half (56%) recognize the specific threats to the dolphins, and an impressive 93% know what steps to take if they find a dolphin in trouble—demonstrating their readiness to serve as first responders for dolphin conservation.
The World Bank initiatives, such as the Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods (SUFAL) project, have taken these efforts further by establishing eight dolphin response teams, each comprising one forest officer and nine community members. These teams are dedicated to helping release entangled dolphins and report any dolphin deaths observed in their areas.
However, about 30% of fishers expressed concern for the dolphin’s future, fearing that unless issues like gillnet entanglement, poison fishing, declining fish stocks, sedimentation, and reduced freshwater flow are urgently addressed, dolphins may soon disappear from these rivers altogether.
Ganges River Dolphin Coordination and Management Platform
The World Bank, in collaboration with partners, established the Ganges River Dolphin Platform to strengthen conservation efforts for the Ganges River Dolphin. The platform aims to improve coordination and risk management across World Bank-financed projects in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin. By placing dolphin conservation at the heart of development initiatives, the platform seeks to ensure that future investments are dolphin-friendly, fostering collaboration among governments, ministries, development partners, and experts. It will serve as a dynamic hub for sharing best practices, project updates, and research, while providing a roadmap and action plans that could revolutionize dolphin conservation across the region. The platform will not only guide the implementation of dolphin-friendly solutions but also create lasting partnerships and strengthen the capacity of local communities to protect their aquatic ecosystems.
River Dolphin Protocols
In a significant step forward for conservation, standardized protocols for population surveys and cumulative impact assessments of the Ganges River Dolphin have been developed through collaboration between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Southern Waters. These protocols, which define the dolphin as a Valued Ecosystem Component, were further refined with valuable input from stakeholders during the First International Conference on Ganges River Dolphins, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These refined protocols will now be rolled out across various World Bank projects within the GBM river basin, ensuring consistent and effective conservation practices. The protocols are designed to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing dolphin populations and evaluating potential risks, ensuring that all efforts are aligned with the broader goals of ecosystem protection and sustainable development.
To facilitate the implementation of these protocols, the platform has organized training sessions for respective Project Implementation Units (PIUs) of the governments and the World Bank project team leaders across the GBM region. These sessions are designed to enhance local expertise and ensure the effective application of the new guidelines, equipping stakeholders with the tools they need to track, assess, and protect the Ganges River Dolphin population. The capacity-building efforts are an essential part of the platform's mission to create a long-term, collaborative framework for dolphin conservation that can be adapted and scaled across the region.
Collaboration among the World Bank financed projects across the GBM Basin
To save the Ganges River Dolphin, a holistic approach is need to manage risks along the GBM River Basin. With nine World Bank-supported projects spanning the basin, coordination and data sharing among these projects are critical.
The nine World Bank projects are:
