Ganges River Dolphin

#GS-03 Environment and Ecology

About Ganges River Dolphin:

The Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was officially discovered in 1801.
It is also known by the name susu (popular name) or “Sisu” (Assamese language) and shushuk (Bengali).
Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges.
The Ganges River dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, giving them an ability similar to sonar or Bats.
They are frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together.
Calves are chocolate brown at birth and then have grey-brown smooth, hairless skin as adults.
Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.
The Ganges river dolphin is important because it is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
The government of India declared it the National Aquatic Animal in 2009 and it is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.

IUCN Status: Endangered.
CITES Appendix I.
Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule 1
The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar is the only sanctuary for the conservation of Gangetic dolphins in India.

The Ganges river dolphin is still hunted for meat and oil, which are both used medicinally.
Industrial, agricultural, and human pollution is another serious cause of habitat degradation.
Each year, 9,000 tons of pesticides and 6 million tons of fertilizers are used in the vicinity of the river.
High levels of pollution can directly kill prey species and dolphins, and completely destroy their habitat.
As the top predator, river dolphins have been known to have high levels of persistent toxic chemicals in their bodies, which is likely to adversely affect their health.