Ganges River Dolphin
EN

Ganges River Dolphin

Platanista gangetica

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_river_dolphin

Overview

The Ganges River Dolphin, a functionally blind freshwater cetacean that navigates by echolocation, survives in small numbers in Nepal's Karnali, Narayani, and Sapta Koshi river systems. Nepal's population of approximately 30 individuals represents the species' upstream range limit. These dolphins are indicators of river ecosystem health.

Dam construction (Koshi Barrage, Narayani barrages) fragments river habitat and prevents seasonal migrations. Bycatch in fishing nets, sand mining destroying deep pool habitat, pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste, and declining fish stocks. Threats are intensifying.

Threat summary

Habitat

Wetlands — Permanent Rivers (Ganges system)· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationLegislationCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Other threatened species in PLATANISTIDAE

EN

Indus River Dolphin

Platanista minor

Increasing

Threatened in Bangladesh

Long-nosed CrocodileCR

Long-nosed Crocodile

Gavialis gangeticus

Increasing
Capped LangurVU

Capped Langur

Trachypithecus pileatus

Declining
Bangladeshi GuitarfishCR

Bangladeshi Guitarfish

Glaucostegus younholeei

Declining
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ganges River Dolphin classified as Endangered?
Ganges River Dolphin is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Dam construction (Koshi Barrage, Narayani barrages) fragments river habitat and prevents seasonal migrations. Bycatch in fishing nets, sand mining destroying deep pool habitat, pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste, and declining fish stocks. Threats are intensifying.
Where does Ganges River Dolphin live?
Ganges River Dolphin occurs in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Ganges River Dolphin?
The main threats to Ganges River Dolphin are 1.1, 10.2, 11.1, and 11.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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