Gangetic River Dolphin
(Platanista gangetica)
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
kingdom: Animalia
Phylum
: Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Infraorder:
Cetacea
Family : Platanistidae
Genus :
Platanista
Species : P. gangetica (Lebeck, 1801)
Common Names
Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, phoo, side-swimming dolphin and South Asian River Dolphin.
Conservation Status
IWPA : Schedule I
Cites : Appendix I
Geographical Distribution
The Gangetic River dolphin is one of the three obligatory freshwater dolphins in the world. It is primarily found in the Ganga River and its tributaries, including the Ramganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Rapti, Son, Gandak and Kosi, as well as in the Brahmaputra River. These dolphins are most commonly found in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. During the monsoon season, they migrate locally to tributaries and return to larger river channels in the dry winter season. Additionally, these dolphins have been observed moving along the coast of the Bay of Bengal when monsoons flush freshwater along India’s southeastern coastline. In 2017, it was estimated that the global Gangetic River dolphin population comprised less than 3,500 individuals.
General Information
The Ganges River Dolphin do not have a specific mating season. Breeding typically occurs between the ages of six and ten years, with females giving birth once every two to three years. Courtship and mating behaviours have been observed from March to May, when the water level is lower. A calf is born 8 to 12 months after conception and stays with its mother for the first year of life. The dolphin reaches reproductive maturity around the age of ten and the lifespan is estimated to be between 26-30 years. Gangetic river dolphins generally prefer deeper waters in rivers and are commonly found in habitats such as small islands, sandbars, river bends and the confluence of tributaries. As the top predator of the river ecosystem, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. These carnivorous dolphins feed on a variety of prey, including shrimp, freshwater fish such as carp, catfish and crabs.
Threats
- Unintentional killing
- Overexploitation of prey due to fishing gear entanglement
.
- Habitat destruction from water projects and fragment populations from dams.
- Water pollution.
- Poaching for dolphin oil.
Aquatic Species / Dolphin of Ganga / Gangetic River Dolphin