In the waters of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna River Basin, the Ganges River Dolphin is struggling for survival. This nearly blind dolphin relies on echolocation to navigate its freshwater habitat. The species' survival depends on healthy fish populations and clean rivers, yet it faces an uncertain future as it is listed as endangered globally by the IUCN Red List.
The dolphin's habitat spans 13,500 kilometers across eight countries but has seen a significant decline since the 1800s. A recent survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society documented 636 groups of these dolphins over 1,905 kilometers in 30 days, establishing a baseline population of around 1,352 dolphins.
Efforts to protect this species include initiatives by The World Bank such as the Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods (SUFAL) project. It has established eight dolphin response teams to aid entangled dolphins and report deaths. However, about 30% of fishers express concern that issues like gillnet entanglement and reduced freshwater flow need urgent attention.
The World Bank has also set up the Ganges River Dolphin Platform to enhance conservation efforts through better coordination across projects in the river basin. The platform aims to ensure future investments are dolphin-friendly and encourages collaboration among governments and experts.
Standardized protocols for population surveys have been developed with input from stakeholders during an international conference held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These protocols will be implemented across various World Bank projects within the GBM river basin.
Nine World Bank-supported projects are currently working on nature-positive solutions that include risk mitigation and knowledge sharing globally to safeguard the dolphin population.
A conference held in Dhaka brought together experts who emphasized regional cooperation for protecting these dolphins. Following this event, training sessions were organized to improve conservation efforts related to habitat restoration.
The Ganges River Dolphin Platform seeks not only to protect an endangered species but also foster sustainable development by bringing together regional governments and partners committed to preserving aquatic ecosystems.