First Organised Census of Indus Dolphins in Punjab

The first organised census of the Indus river dolphin in Punjab marked a significant step in wildlife conservation, offering scientific data on one of India’s rarest and most endangered aquatic mammals. Conducted jointly by the Punjab Government and the World Wide Fund for Nature–India (WWF-India), the survey focused on the population of dolphins inhabiting a stretch of the Beas River, which constitutes the only known habitat of the Indus dolphin in India.

Background

The Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is a subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin found primarily in the Indus River system. Once widespread across the Indus and its tributaries, the species suffered a drastic decline due to habitat fragmentation caused by dams, barrages, and excessive water extraction. In India, the Beas River in Punjab represents the last surviving habitat of this dolphin species.
The species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is legally protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which offers it the highest level of protection. Prior to this organised survey, information on the Indian population was limited to scattered sightings without any formal population estimate.

Census Objectives

The organised census was launched in 2018 as a collaborative effort between the Punjab Wildlife Preservation Department and WWF-India. The main objectives were:

• To establish a reliable estimate of the Indus dolphin population in the Beas River.
• To map their distribution and habitat range within the river system.
• To identify threats to the species and its habitat, such as pollution, water extraction, and fishing practices.
• To provide a baseline dataset for long-term monitoring and conservation planning.

Methodology

The census covered an approximately 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River, extending from Talwara (near Harike Headworks) to the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, where the Beas joins the Sutlej. Teams comprising wildlife experts, researchers, and local forest officials conducted the survey through boat-based visual observations and acoustic monitoring.
The procedure involved:

• Dividing the river stretch into observation segments for systematic coverage.
• Conducting repeated surveys at different times of the day to minimise detection errors.
• Recording direct sightings, sounds, and behaviour of dolphins.
• Collecting data on river depth, water quality, and surrounding habitat conditions.

The exercise was supported by local communities and coordinated under the “Beas Conservation Reserve”, which was established to protect aquatic biodiversity in the river.

Findings

The census identified a small but breeding population of Indus dolphins in the Beas River. Observations confirmed the presence of five to eleven individuals, including a calf, indicating that the population was reproducing naturally and maintaining a viable ecological presence.
This finding was particularly encouraging as it proved that the Beas population was not only surviving but also capable of regeneration despite isolation from the main Indus system in Pakistan.

Ecological and Conservation Significance

• The Beas River population represents the only surviving group of Indus dolphins in India, making it of exceptional national and global conservation value.
• The census provided the first scientific baseline to monitor population trends, reproductive success, and habitat quality over time.
• It strengthened Punjab’s conservation policy framework and justified continued protection under the Beas Conservation Reserve, declared in 2017.
• The study helped in identifying critical dolphin habitats for habitat improvement and pollution control measures.

Threats Identified

The census also highlighted several challenges to the species’ survival:

• Fragmentation of habitat due to dams, barrages, and altered river flows.
• Pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial waste entering the Beas River.
• Entanglement in fishing nets and accidental captures by local fishermen.
• Reduction in prey availability caused by ecological imbalance and declining water quality.
• Noise disturbances from mechanised boats and sand-mining operations.

These threats pose a severe risk to the long-term survival of the small dolphin population and call for sustained intervention.

Post-Census Actions

Following the census, the Punjab Government intensified its conservation measures under the Tandarust Punjab Mission and wildlife management initiatives:

• Strengthening anti-poaching and anti-pollution enforcement along the Beas.
• Regulating fishing activities and restricting the use of gill nets.
• Conducting periodic awareness campaigns among local communities.
• Expanding ecological monitoring and establishing dolphin-watch zones.
• Integrating the dolphin conservation plan with broader river-restoration projects.

The WWF-India and the Punjab Wildlife Department also committed to conducting regular follow-up censuses to track changes in dolphin numbers and habitat quality.

Broader Importance

The census of Indus dolphins in Punjab represents a model of cooperative conservation, combining government policy, scientific research, and community participation. It demonstrates how small, isolated populations can still be protected effectively through targeted conservation planning.
Moreover, it brings international attention to India’s role in conserving one of the world’s rarest freshwater dolphin species, complementing similar efforts in Pakistan’s Indus basin, where larger populations persist.