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status of Ganges river dolphin

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Status of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) in
the Ganga River Basin, India: A review
Article  in  Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management · October 2013
DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2013.845069
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Status of Ganges River Dolphin
(Platanista gangetica gangetica) in the
Ganga River Basin, India: A review
Sandeep Kumar Behera
a
, Hari Singh
a
& Viveksheel Sagar
a
a
WWF-India, Secretariat, 172-Lodhi Estate , New Delhi , 110003,
India
Published online: 11 Dec 2013.
To cite this article: Sandeep Kumar Behera , Hari Singh & Viveksheel Sagar (2013) Status of Ganges
River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) in the Ganga River Basin, India: A review, Aquatic
Ecosystem Health & Management, 16:4, 425-432
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3. Status of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica
gangetica) in the Ganga River Basin, India: A review
Sandeep Kumar Behera, Hari Singh,
∗
and Viveksheel Sagar
WWF-India, Secretariat, 172-Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003, India
∗
Corresponding author: [email protected]
River Dolphins are among the world’s most threatened mammals. The rapid growth of human popula-
tions, widespread habitat degradation, pollution, flow regulation and water extraction, fisheries overex-
ploitation and weaknesses of protective legislation have caused severe declines in the range and abundance
of Ganges River Dolphins in India. Due to rising conservation concerns, dolphin biologists in the country
have conducted a great deal of research over the past few decades on the status and trends of the sub-species
in its distribution range. However, empirical studies are still lacking on the ecology of River dolphins, both
to inform conservation efforts and to help address broader concerns related to biodiversity conservation
and the sustainability of human use of river systems. Existing conservation efforts might be insufficient
to stem the ongoing decline of freshwater dolphins in the country. In this article we review the status of
Ganges River Dolphins, with a focus on threats the sub-species is facing in its current distribution range,
and provide recommendations for its conservation.
Keywords:dolphin, distribution, population, threats, conservation, habitat, trends
Introduction
The Ganga originates at 4,000 meters above sea
level in Gangotri, Uttarkashi District, Uttarakahand,
India from the southern slopes of the Himalayan
range. It flows through five states in India: Uttarak-
hand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West
Bengal, covering a distance of 2,510 km before it
enters the Bay of Bengal (Behera, 1995; Rao, 1995)
(Figure 1). The Ganga and its tributaries drain a
large and fertile basin of about one million square
kilometres that supports one of the world’s high-
est human population densities. Almost half of the
population of India lives along the Gangetic plains
(Misra, 2011). There are 30 cities, 70 towns and
thousands of villages along the banks of the Ganga.
Nearly all of the sewage from these population cen-
tres, over 1.3 billion litres per day, passes directly
into the river (National River Conservation Direc-
torate [NRCD], 2009). The discharges from many
industries enter the Ganga River directly or indi-
rectly and pollute the river to a considerable extent.
An estimated 260 million litres of industrial wastew-
ater, largely untreated, is discharged by hundreds of
factories, while other major pollution inputs include
runoff from agricultural fields. More than 6 million
tonnes of chemical fertilizers and 9,000 tonnes of
pesticides are used annually within the basin (Wang
et al., 2008). All along the Ganga, most of the ghats
(where religious bathing and other rituals are per-
formed), have religious importance. Pilgrims, often
numbering in the thousands, take a holy bath, cre-
mate their dead and perform other post-cremation
activities on the banks of the river and thus con-
tribute to pollution. Over the past three decades
or so, the pollution of the Ganga has reached se-
rious levels leading to local and national campaigns
and actions to restore the health of this sacred river
425
Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 16(4):425–432, 2013. Copyright C2013 AEHMS. ISSN: 1463-4988 print / 1539-4077 online
DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2013.845069Downloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

4. 426 Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432
Figure 1.Ganga river basin showing important dolphin habitats in the main river and its tributaries. (Color figure available online.)
(Behera, 1995; Sinha et al.,2000). Perhaps for the
first time, this baseline information on the current
status of Ganges River Dolphin in Ganga and its
tributaries has been prepared which will serve as
future reference.
Biological resources of the River
Ganga
The River Ganga is one of the most pro-
ductive rivers in the world and supports a rich
fauna and flora, including the endangered Ganges
River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica),
Smooth-coated Otter (Lutragale perspicillata) and
at least eighteen species of other terrestrial mam-
mals (Bashir et al., 2012). Reptiles include two
species of crocodiles along with one species of Mon-
itor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis)and eleven species
of Freshwater Turtle. The Ganga also has the richest
freshwater fish fauna (378 species) of any river in
India (Rao, 1995).
The riparian zone supports many plant species
that are of both ecological and economic impor-
tance. Most plants play an important role in con-
trolling soil erosion. They also possess, in many
cases, important medicinal properties. Where the
river meets the Bay of Bengal, the famed Sundar-
bans mangroves form the world’s largest mangrove
forest, covering an area of 20,400 sq km in an ag-
glomeration of 54 islands. They derive their name
from the predominant mangrove species,Heritiera
fomes, which are known locally asSundari.Ani-
mals in the delta include the endangered royal Ben-
gal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), the Indian Python
(Python molurus), and Crocodile (Crocodylus poro-
sus). Two species of dolphins are found in the delta:
the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), and
the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica
gangetica). The Irrawaddy Dolphin is not a true
River Dolphin, but enters the delta from the Bay of
Bengal.
Platanista gangeticahas two sub speciesPla-
tanista gangetica gangeticaandPlatanista ganget-
ica minor(the Indus River Dolphin). The Ganges
River Dolphin however, is a true River Dolphin; it
occurs only in fresh or brackish water, and is consid-
ered ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (IUCN, 2004). The
Government of India declared it as the ‘National
Aquatic Animal’ in 2009 (Reeves, 2009) and it has
received protection in nine protected areas (PAs); ofDownloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

5. Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432 427
these only one, the Vikramshila Ganges River Dol-
phin Sanctuary near Bhagalpur is specifically known
for the conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin.
They have also received some protection in the Na-
tional Chambal Sanctuary, specially created for the
protection of the Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeti-
cus).
Status and distribution of Ganges
River Dolphin
Platanista gangetica gangetica, known locally
asSusu,is endemic to the Indian sub-continent
and is found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna
and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of India and
Bangladesh. A few individuals survive in the River
Karnali in Nepal and possibly the Sapta Kosi River.
Dolphins are present in the Ganga River and its
tributaries such as Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra,
Gandak, Rapti, Narayani and Kosi Rivers (Sinha
et al.,2000). Due to increase in various anthro-
pogenic threats, a reduction in its historical range
and population size has been recorded (Smith et al.,
2006). There is no complete scientific estimate of
range-wise abundance of this sub-species, but it was
listed as “endangered” (IUCN, 2004). A recent sur-
vey conducted by WWF-India and its partners in the
entire distribution range in the Ganges and Brahma-
putra river system—around 6,000 km—identified
fewer than 2,000 individuals in India (WWF, 2009).
Habitat of Ganges River Dolphin
Dolphins are abundant in the long stretches of
deep water in meanderings, confluences and in as-
sociation with mid-channel sand bars (Smith and
Reeves, 2000). Primary habitats of the dolphins
are characterized by an eddy counter current sys-
tem in the main river flow caused by a point
bar formed from sediments deposits, a convergent
stream branch or by an upstream meander.Susuis
also found below sand bars and bridges where ed-
dies are formed (Sinha and Sharma, 2003). Water
temperature may have little impact on this animal;
being a mammal it can tolerate a wide range of
temperature fluctuations. The Ganges dolphins can
tolerate water as low as 5
◦
C like that of the River
Karnali in the winter season in Nepal, and as high
as 35
◦
C in the summer season on the plains of Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar. They are found in highly turbid
water during the monsoon when secchi disc trans-
parency is less than 20 cm. Thus water temperature
and turbidity are not significant factors in deter-
mining the distribution of this species. Due to the
typical patterns of rainfall being restricted to only
about 3 months during a year in the basin, the dry
season flow in the Ganga and its tributaries is only a
fraction of the total annual flow. This flow has been
seriously affected by the diversion of water for irri-
gation purpose. In the recent past, over-abstraction
of groundwater in the basin has had a marked effect
on water quality of the river. In the Ganga basin,
there are several major systems of canals. The up-
per Gangetic main canal, taking off from Haridwar,
is 230 km long and carries a discharge of about 300
cubic meters per seconds. Further down, the lower
Gangetic canal has a discharge of more than 150 cu-
bic meters per second. The total number of medium
or major irrigation projects—644 as of the latest
published survey in 2009—represents a command-
ing area of about 36. 12% of the basin, or about
472,226 sq km (NRCD, 2009). Apart from irriga-
tion, groundwater resources are also being heavily
trapped for industrial and domestic use in both ur-
ban and rural areas. Due to this, untreated sewage
and toxic effluents are being dumped into the river.
Around 2 billion litres of untreated human waste
enters the Ganges every day from five states – Ut-
tarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West
Bengal (Jain et al., 2007).
Historical and current
distribution
Cuvier (1836) claimed that the Ganges River
Dolphin ascended the Ganges in great numbers to
as far upstream as was navigable. Historically,Susu
occurred in the entire length of the Ganga and all
its tributaries from the estuary upstream into the
foothills of the Himalayas, where distribution was
limited by rocky barriers, high velocities, or shallow
water (Anderson, 1879).
Currently, this dolphin ranges into most of the
large tributaries in the Ganges Basin: the Yamuna,
Son, Sind, Chambal, Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara,
Rapti, Gandak and Kosi as well as the main channel.
In the Brahmaputra valley it also ranges into many of
the major tributaries: the Tista, Adadhar, Champa-
mat, Manas, Bhareli, Subhansiri, Dihang, Dibang,
Lohit, Disang, Dikho and Kulsi (Rice, 1998). Down-
stream it ranges through most of the larger tribu-
taries between the Hugh and Meghna Rivers, as far
as the tidal limits at the mouth of the Ganges. TheyDownloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

6. 428 Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432
are also reported from the Fenny, Karnaphuli and
Sangu Rivers to the southeast of the mouths of the
Ganges (Rice, 1998). The uppermost distribution is
said to be restricted only by the lack of water and by
rocky barriers (Reyes, 1991; Table 1).
Ganges dolphins have been extirpated from por-
tions of their upstream range in Nepal and India, and
populations have been fragmented and reduced in
numbers where they still occur (Sinha et al., 2000).
No dolphins have ever been recorded above the Bi-
jnor Barrage (Madhya Ganga Barrage) in the main
Ganga. Therefore, the upper most distribution limit
is the Bijnor Barrage (Behera, 1995). No dolphin
could be sighted in the entire stretch of the River
Sarda (approximately 100 km) upstream Sardanagar
Barrage in March 1994 (Sinha and Sharma, 2003)
and also in the entire stretch of the River Sone (about
200 km) in Bihar starting from Uttar Pradesh - Bi-
har border to its confluence with the Ganga near
Koelwar in Bihar (Sinha, 2004). Similarly no dol-
phin has been recorded in the River Yamuna from
foothill of the Himalayas near Hathni kund Barrage
in Haryana to its confluence with the Chambal near
Etawaha in Uttar Pradesh. The last dolphin recorded
from the Yamuna River at Delhi was in 1967 when
a drowned dolphin was brought to Delhi Zoo from
Yamuna (Sinha et al., 2000).
Threats to the Ganges River
Dolphin in the Ganga River Basin
Construction of dams and barrages on the
Ganges and many of their tributaries has fragmented
the habitats of dolphin. Besides this, unregulated
fishing, incidental and accidental trapping and lack
of awareness have been identified major threats to
the Ganges River Dolphin. The cause of decline of
Ganges River Dolphin in Ganges and its tributaries
are broadly be categorized as given below.
Hunting
Ganges River Dolphin used to be hunted com-
monly since time immemorial. About 50 River Dol-
phin’s oil was extracted during 1990–1992 between
Patna and Rajmahal from the Ganges in Bihar (Mo-
han and Kunhi, 1996). Approximately 25–30 dol-
phins were killed deliberately for oil during low
water period near patna between January and April
2001 (Sinha, 2002). Mohan et al. (1997) recorded
20–25 dolphins were killed by harpoons annually in
Bihar and Assam states of India. Dolphin oil fishing
is also practiced between Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon
in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary and
in the river Brahmaputra in Assam (Bairagi, 1999).
Accidental and revenge killing in gillnets
The mortality of the River Dolphin in gillnets
was highlighted by Mohan (1989). In the Ganges
between Patna and Farakka barrage, nearly 100
dolphins are killed in the gillnets annually (Mo-
han, 1995). In the Brahmaputra, about 150 dol-
phins, mostly juvenile, were killed throughout its
range from Dubri to Saikowaghat (Mohan, 1995).
In 2004–2005, Wakid recorded the death of 14 dol-
phins in the Brahmaputra River in which 12 were
the victim of by catch mortality and rest were the
victim of poaching (Wakid, 2009). Mohan (1995)
recorded about 100 fishing villages in the bank of
Brahmaputra River. In the same river 583 gill nets
were recorded during 2004–2005 (Wakid, 2009).
Habitat degradation
Habitat degradation caused decline in the dol-
phin populations. Some of the dolphin habitats are
degraded due to high rate of siltation, low water flow
and construction of barrages. The habitat in the Son
has been degraded due to very high rate of siltation,
low flow of water, sand mining, and construction of
barrage besides direct and incidental killings of the
dolphins especially at Koilwar. River Dolphins are
found only during the monsoon season and only up
to the barrage. The dolphins enter into the Son from
the Ganges. The Kosi sustains dolphin population
throughout its stretch in the state. Construction of
barrage, high siltation, reduced river flow, poison-
fishing, killing in some parts are some of the impor-
tant threats to the dolphin population in the Kosi.
Massive stone sand excavation and collection have
been found to be the major disturbances in the river-
ine habitat leading to higher siltation of rivers and
major cause of disturbance affecting the integrity of
the riverine ecosystem.
Dams and barrages
The increasing population and industrialization
in the catchment areas have adverse impact on dol-
phin habitat. Construction of dams and barrages on
the Indus, Ganges and rivers of Nepal and many of
their tributaries has divided the populations of dol-
phins into many small fragments, some of which
have disappeared, most likely because of disrup-
tion of their food supplies (Mohan, 1989; Shrestha,
1989). At Kapti dam on the Karnaphuli river whereDownloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

7. Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432 429
Table 1.Current status of Ganges River Dolphins in Ganga River and its tributaries.
Length of the Dolphin
Name of the river river surveyed Year number Source
The Ganga Mainstem The Ganga (Haridwar to Bijnor
Barrage)
100 km 1993 Nil (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Ganga (Bijnor Barrage to
Narora Barrage
165 km 2008 56 (Bashir et al., 2010)
The Ganga (Narora to Kanpur) 300 km 2009 3 (WWF- India,
unpublished 2009)
Kanpur to Allahabad 272 km 2009 108
The Ganga (Allahabad to
Buxar)
425 km 1998 172 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Ganga (Buxar to
Maniharighat)
500 km 1998 808 (Sinha et al., 2000)
Vikramshila dolphin Sanctuary 65 km 2007–2008 179 (Kelkar et al., 2010)
The Ganga (Maniharighat to
Farakka)
100 km 1998 24 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Farakka Feeder canal 38 km 1995 21 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Bhagirathi (Jangipur
Barrage to Triveni)
320 km 1995 119 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Hooghli (Triveni to Ganga
Sagar)
190 km 1995 32 (Sinha, 1997)
Tributaries of the Ganga
The Yamuna (Chillla to
Saraswatighat near
Allahabad Sangam)
183 km 2009 48 (WWF-India, unpublished
2009)
The Kosi (Kosi Barrage to
Kursela)
200 km 2001 85 (Sinha and Sharma, 2003)
The Gandak (Gandak Barrage
to confluence with Ganga at
Patna)
332 km 2010 257 (Choudhary et al., 2012)
The Girwa River 18 km 2009 30 WWF-India, unpublished
2009)
Ghagra River 505 km 2009 295 (WWF-India, unpublished
2009)
The Sarda (Sarda Barrage to
Palya)
100 km 2001 Nil (Sinha and Sharma, 2003)
The Chambal (Pali to
Pachhnada)
425 km 2008 86 (Singh and Rao, 2012)
The Ken(from confluence of
Yamuna at Chilla to Sindhan
Kala village)
30 km 1998 08 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Kumari (from confluence
of Sind River)
100 km 1998 Nil (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Betwa (from confluence of
the Yamuna at Hamirpur to
Orai
84 km 1998 06 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Sind (from confluence
with the Yamuna)
110 km 1998 05 (Sinha et al., 2000)
(Continued on next page)Downloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

8. 430 Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432
Table 1.Current status of Ganges River Dolphins in Ganga River and its tributaries.(Continued)
Length of the Dolphin
Name of the river river surveyed Year number Source
The Son 130 km 1994–95 10 (Sinha et al., 2000) The Brahmaputra river 600 km 1996 400 (Mohan et al., 1997)
856 km 2004–2005 179 (Wakid, 2009)
The Barak river 17 km 2006 6 (Sinha et al., 2000)
The Subhansiri River 99 km 2005 26 (Wakid, 2009)
The River Kulsi 76 km 2005 27 (Wakid, 2009)
Data source: Sinha et al. (2000).
all the dolphins were present earlier above the dam have disappeared and those below the dam seem to be declining (Mohan, 1989). It was noticed that the barrages on the Ganga River at Rishikesh, Harid- war, Bijnor and Narora have an adverse impact on the habitat. Construction of barrages has divided the dolphin population into fragmented or meta- population in the entire Ganga River. Although fragmented population may survive in the short to medium term, altered processes contribute to their demise in the long term (Smith et al., 1994). The dolphins have disappeared from the Ganga River upstream Bijnor barrage. A few dolphins remain in between Bijnor barrage and Narora barrage. These barrages when closed during the lean water season have created a permanent barrier across the river blocking the movements of the dolphins (WWF- India, unpublished).
Pollutions
Kannan et al. (1997) concluded that River Dol-
phins in India may be at greater risk from envi-
ronmental contamination than marine cetaceans be-
cause pollution discharge sites in the Ganga are
often located in preferred habitat. The significant
DDT concentrations found in fish from the gut of
dolphins analyzed by Kumar et al. (1999), showed
their exposure to DDT through the food they con-
sumed. Pollutants entering into the dolphin habi-
tats are harmful to dolphins both directly and indi-
rectly through food. The pollutants in the river are
lethal to many organisms like zooplanktons, crus-
taceans, snails and fishes, which are a part of food
cycle of dolphins. Absence of dolphins below Kach-
laghat up to Kanpur, a polluted stretch, indicates that
dolphins are intolerant of pollutants (WWF-India,
unpublished).
Conclusions
The Ganga River Dolphin is important not only
because it is endangered, but perhaps more so be-
cause it is a reliable indicator of the health of the
Ganga river, in fact the whole river ecosystem. Since
1997, WWF India, its partner organizations, scien-
tists, and others have taken several initiatives for the
conservation of Ganges River Dolphin in India as a
follow up of the action plan. The work carried out by
different agencies in the past few years clearly indi-
cates that the overall population of dolphins in India
has reduced drastically but the population in few
stretches of the main Ganges River and few selected
tributaries have increased since the previous assess-
ments. It is apparent that the anthropogenic stresses
like construction of barrages, over-exploitation of
dolphin diet, aquatic pollution and water abstrac-
tion are a major threat to dolphin population. The
habitats of dolphin in the present study are not pro-
tected, except for some habitats that receive reli-
gious protection at bathing ghats, and some inci-
dental protection by Irrigation Department at bar-
rage areas and by the police, who are posted on the
different sites along the Ganga River at Inter-district
boarders.
Few initiatives have been identified as essential
for conservation of River Dolphins. Periodic sur-
veys and regular monitoring should be carried out
of the entire dolphin habitat. Over exploitation and
destructive methods of fishing in the dolphin habi-
tat are to be controlled. There is a serious need of
mass scale plantation in the catchments area of the
rivers to reduce the silt load entering the river sys-
tems. A minimum flow of water in the river must be
allowed even during the lean season so that the dol-
phin population can survive and migrate. Education
and awareness campaigns at potential dolphin habi-
tats for fishing communities, civil officers, studentsDownloaded by [1.187.179.177] at 04:15 23 January 2014

9. Behera et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16 (2013) 425–432 431
and people at large need to be intensified. Dolphin
eco-centres with the focus on conservation, edu-
cation and research should be created. The Union
Ministry of Environment and Forests can take the
initiative to give a new lease on life to the dolphin by
launching Project Dolphin, similar to the other spe-
cial species conservation programmes.
Acknowledgements
At WWF-India, we are highly obliged to Mr.
Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, Dr. Sejal
Worah, Programme Director and Mr. Suresh Babu,
Director, River Basin and Water Policy Division
for their support and encouragement. The authors
would also like to thank the support provided by the
WWF-India, Field Office, Narora Team. Comments
from two anonymous reviewers were helpful for im-
proving the manuscript. Financial support from the
HSBC Water Programme is highly acknowledged.
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