Why in news?
Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the second range-wide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin on January 16-17, 2026, starting from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
Survey Phases
The first phase covers the Ganga main stem from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River, using boats, hydrophones for acoustic monitoring, and ecological data collection by 26 researchers.
Phase two extends to the Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, Sundarbans, and Odisha, expanding to include Irrawaddy Dolphins in new areas.​
What is Project Dolphin?
- Launch: Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2020 during Independence Day speech.
- Objective: Protect and conserve dolphins in Indian rivers (like the Ganges) and oceans.
- Implementing Agency: Wildlife Institute of India, under MoEFCC.
Goals of Project Dolphin
- Conservation of Riverine Dolphins: Focus on species like the Ganges River dolphin, found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.
- Protection of Oceanic Dolphins: Safeguard marine dolphin populations along India’s coasts.
- Community Involvement: Encourage local communities to participate in dolphin conservation.
- Research & Monitoring: Establish baseline data, conduct surveys, and monitor populations.
- Awareness & Education: Promote eco-tourism and awareness campaigns to highlight dolphin conservation
Riverine dolphins and estuarine dolphins
Riverine dolphins live in freshwater rivers, while estuarine dolphins inhabit brackish estuaries and coastal waters. Both groups are adapted to murky, shallow environments but differ in species, distribution, and evolutionary lineage.
Comparison
| Feature |
Riverine Dolphins |
Estuarine Dolphins |
| Habitat |
Freshwater rivers (Ganges, Amazon, Indus) |
Brackish estuaries & coastal lagoons |
| Vision |
Poor eyesight, rely on echolocation |
Better eyesight than riverine species |
| Species Examples |
Ganges, Indus, Amazon, Yangtze, La Plata |
Tucuxi, Guiana dolphin |
| Adaptations |
Long beaks, flexible necks, solitary |
Social, playful, smaller body size |
| Threats |
Dams, pollution, habitat loss |
Fishing nets, coastal development |
| Conservation Status |
Mostly endangered or extinct |
Vulnerable/near threatened |
Key Challenges
- Riverine dolphins face severe habitat fragmentation due to dams and irrigation projects.
- Estuarine dolphins are highly vulnerable to human activity in coastal zones, including pollution and boat strikes.
- Both groups are indicator species—their decline signals broader ecosystem stress.
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