(Feature Image: Carcass of a Gangetic dolphin found on Ganga river bank in Sahibganj district on Oct. 02, 2025)
Oct. 5 is marked as National Dolphin Day since 2022 after a decision by the NBWL in its 67th meeting in March 2022. Earlier the day was designated as Ganga River Dolphin Day. Bihar has been celebrating Oct. 5 as ‘Dolphin Day’ for the past many years. In May 2010, the MoEF had notified the Gangetic Dolphin as ‘National Aquatic Animal’ and in Aug. 2022 launched the Project Dolphin.
Since Jan. 2021, SANDRP has been profiling the deaths, threats and relevant developments concerning the endangered species on annual basis using publicly available information and research materials. In the past five years we have documented at least 38 deaths of Gangetic dolphins, details of which can be seen here Oct. 2024 (7 incidents) May 2023 (10 incidents), April 2022 (11 incidents), Jan 2021 (10 incidents).
This year, we could find details related to the death of at least 5 Gangetic dolphins during past one year including 3 from Uttar Pradesh and 1 each from Jharkhand and West Bengal. The report indicates gradual increase in incidents of dolphins being stranded in canal particularly in Sharda river canals in Uttar Pradesh due to problematic operation of barrages.
It is also observed that there is increase in awareness among local communities and successful rescue efforts by the forest departments. The report also covers status of govt conservation programs and findings of important studies, survey conducted recently.
Uttar Pradesh: A dead dolphin presumed as a giant fish by locals was taken out of Ganga on Aug. 4, 2025 near Gadoli Dham under Kachawan area of Mirzapur district. The body was later reclaimed by the forest department for further investigation.
In the last week of July 2025, a dolphin was found dead at Daraganj ghat in Prayagraj. People feared that the dolphin was washed away by strong flood currents and died.
As per a June 5, 2025 report, a video surfaced on social media showing a dolphin trapped in a fishing net near Daipur ghat of Kannauj. While people dreaded it could have died, a Ganga Prahari quoted in the report mentioned that it was rescued and released back in the river.
This detailed ground report in June 2025 mentioned about mysterious death of 4 Gangetic dolphin between Meerut and Bulandshahar stretch of Ganga between 2020 and 2024.
In a major rescue operation, 6 dolphins were saved in early morning of May 27, 2025 from Indira canal (Sharda feeder) after decline in Achalikheda barrage water level in Mohanlalganj area of Lucknow. The dolphins including 2 calves and 4 females were released in Ghaghara barrage after the 5-hour long rescue work.
A Gangetic dolphin was rescued from Mati Sharda canal under Deva police station of Barabanki district on Oct. 24, 2024 after forest department was informed by local villagers. The national aquatic animal was trapped in the canal for many days due to decline in water level. As per the forest department officials the dolphin aged about 6-7 year, 6-7 feet long and weighing about 100 kg was released in Sharda river after 4 hour long rescue operation.
On the same day, one more dolphin was seen trapped under a bridge at same spot a few hours earlier but it died shortly after the rescue. The corpse of the female dolphin weighing about 150 kg was sent for post mortem and later burnt to avoid smuggling of its body parts. Before this a dolphin seen stranded for many days in Sharda feeder canal in Patranga area of Ayodhya district was rescued and released in Saryu river on Sept. 01, 2024.
Notably, about 12 dolphins were seen trapped near Chakwipura and Couka syphon about 4km away from Sharda barrage in Lakhimpur Kheri district on May 24, 2024. The mammals were stranded in the canal due to significant drop in water levels after opening of Sharda barrage gates. The Irrigation Department released water in the canal after a request by the forest department following which the dolphins managed to swim back safely in Ghaghara river.
Bihar: A dolphin was seen trapped in Kosi west main canal in Lokahi police station area of Madhubani district on Sept. 08, 2025. It was rescued and released in Kosi river near Majhari bridge in Supaul district by forest department.
Jharkhand: Carcass of young Gangetic dolphin was found along Ganga river near Shobhapur village under Mokimpur Panchayat (Rajmahal PS) in Sahibganj district in the evening of Oct. 2, 2025. The dolphin appeared to be 6-7 months old weighing about 15 kg. The death could be due to internal injuries. After information from the fishermen, the forest department recovered the body for the post mortem. The DFO ruled out collision with boats or ship and pollution a reason behind the death.
W Bengal: A Gangetic dolphin was found dead after being trapped in a fishing net in the river Bhagirathi in Katwa area of East Burdwan district on Dec. 18, 2024. There were several injury marks on its body.
Important Studies & Surveys: On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister released the survey report of first-ever riverine dolphin population estimation documenting a total of 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in 8 states. The survey was conducted between 2021-2023 and the report was published in 2024 by WII.
As per the survey, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest numbers 2397 followed by Bihar 2220, West Bengal 815 and Assam 635. River wise about 3275 were found in mainstream of Ganga, 2414 on Ganga’s tributaries, 584 on Brahmaputra mainstream and 51 on its tributaries and only 3 in Beas river.
The survey reiterated the adverse impacts of dams, barrages fragmenting the national aquatic animal’s habitat as the population was found nearly absent between Narora barrage and Kanpur barrage stretch in the main stem of Ganga. It also revealed that the endangered species are preferring refuge in Ganga tributaries and confluence points and has been found in highest numbers along 47 km long river stretch between Chambal and Pachnad in Bhind which is still undammed. Thus, the findings raised significant concerns over proposed Pachnad Major Irrigation Project.
While experts welcomed the survey, they felt there is still a long way to go. As per this report, since 1980, at least 500 dolphins have died, many due to being accidentally caught in fishing nets or killed deliberately highlighting the ongoing threat to the species.
In a related development, the NGT, in Jan. 2025 had directed the WII to file a report on the manner and methodology that was adopted for estimating the dolphin numbers in the Ganga basin. In its response, the WII submitted the findings of the above survey report in May 2025 which was uploaded on NGT website in Sept. 2025. The context of the case is unknown.
Studying 76 dolphin deaths in 14 rivers in Ganga basin between 2008 and 2024, WII researchers found that about 50 percent of deaths were due to accidents, fishing nets, hit by boats and equal number of deaths due to unknown reasons. As per the study, 29 (38.2%) of these deaths happened in Hooghly river in West Bengal followed by 26 in the main stem of Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
The study also found that that 25 (32.9%) of the 76 deaths occurred when dolphins got caught in fishing nets, were hit by boats, or were killed in dredging operations, while 11 dolphins died after they were stranded in canals or shallow water. At least 8 dolphins were killed for meat and 4 identified as victims of “retaliatory killings”.
Th study has identified 770km of river stretches as high-risk hotspots for human-caused mortality, notably the Ganga’s lower segments downstream of the Kosi-Ganga confluence and the Hooghly. As solutions, the study proposed targeted interventions along the hotspots, including rapid rescue and veterinary response teams, stricter fishing regulations, and community-based conservation to balance the needs of riverside communities with the protection of India’s national aquatic animal.
This study published in March 2025 investigated the abundance, habitat use and potential threats to Gangetic dolphin in the Bhagirathi–Hooghly River systems of W Bengal during 2022-23. As per the study the endangered species faces numerous potential threats, including aquatic pollution, habitat destruction, net entanglements, overfishing with destructive fishing gear, agricultural and industrial effluents, vessel collisions, sand mining, and a lack of awareness about dolphin conservation.
It recommended ban or regulated fishing in dolphin hotspot locations and ensuring as well as maintaining enough dry season flows to help preserve dolphin numbers and reduce competition for fish with fishermen.
There is one more recent study which has assessed the distribution, numbers and habitat suitability of the Gangetic dolphin in the small rivers of the Ganga basin and proposed a basin-wide river conservation strategy for the species. This is another detailed report by WII on status of Ganges River Dolphins, threats and best practices for Conservation 2021. This Dec. 1997 study done by RK Sinha on same stretch of river highlights similar threats, specially habitat fragmentation by Farakka barrage.
Relevant Developments:
NMCG: In Nov. 2024, NMCG approved a project titled ‘Advancing Rescue System for the Protection of Stranded Ganges River Dolphins’ with estimated budget of ₹1 crore. It aimed to develop a specialized rescue vehicle, the ‘Dolphin Ambulance’, to assist dolphins in distress. Additionally, the project will focus on raising awareness for dolphin conservation and community capacity building through training.
As per this March 2025 PIB release, the govt has allocated ₹2.41 cr in 2022-23 and ₹2.48 cr in 2023-24 under project dolphin to put focused efforts on species protection, habitat improvement, monitoring, patrolling, and awareness programs. A 200 km stretch in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh has been recommended for designation as a Dolphin Conservation Zone for targeted protection efforts.
Assam: In Dec. 2024, the first ever geotagging of a Gangetic river dolphin was done under project dolphin to study their seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilization, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems.
Replying to question in Rajya Sabha the on July 21, 2025, the Union Environment Ministry stated about 10 mortality cases of River Dolphins across various river systems in Assam between 2020 and 2025 due to accidental killing, unknown causes, internal injuries etc. The Ministry also stated that it has not undertaken any specific study on impact of construction of dams and other infrastructure at locations having more populations of Ganges River Dolphins in the North East Region.
Bihar: In this video interview in Dec. 2024, RK Sinha, known as Dolphin man raising concerns over construction works specially bridges over Ganga river forcing dolphins to migrate to other areas. He also explained how dams, and barrages have isolated the national aquatic animals and reduced their habitats. Additionally, the increase in river transport and pollution have become major threats for the Ganga dolphin.
This Dec. 2024 report mentioned about resentment among fisherfolks against fishing ban inside 72 km Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary citing adverse impacts on livelihood. They also mentioned increasing threats on dolphins from cruise and ship transportation. This June 2025 report mentions about exiting threats on dolphins in the sanctuary area.
As per this Nov. 2024 report, the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) in Patna, the country’s first such centre, remained non-operational 8 months after its inauguration in March 2024. The facility was lying defunct due to a lack of advanced, expensive equipment and skilled manpower. In this June 2025 interview, Prof. RK Sinha raised the issue of the centre lacking regular director and budgetary support.
In Oct. 2024, taking cognisance of the debris of a collapsed under-construction bridge endangering the Gangetic Dolphins in Bhagalpur, the NGT booked several govt agencies. The bridge in question is situated on Sultanganj-Aguani ghat on river Ganga and the case proceedings were to start from Jan. 6, 2025. The portion of the bridge whose debris is polluting the water in Ganga had collapsed on three occasions – August 2024, June 2023 and April 2022 in the last three years and huge debris has been lying there ever since.
Uttar Pradesh: As per Nov. 2024 report, the govt had planned to establish state’s first Dolphin Research Centre and finalized two possible locations (Muzaffarnagar and Hastinapur) for this. There seems no progress on the issue since then.
In the same month, the state forest department announced appointment of six ‘Dolphin Mitras’ including boatmen, fishermen and students living along Ganga river in Varanasi and Ghazipur under project dolphin. The deadline for selection of the candidate was extended from Nov. 2024 to Aug 2025. There is no latest update available on the subject. In March 2025, the govt started Dolphin safari in Varanasi.
SANDRP
SANDRP 