PM Modi Releases India's First Riverine Dolphin Estimation Report Showing 6,327 Dolphins Across 28 Rivers in 8 States.
National
In March 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi released India's first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report during his visit to Gir National Park (NP) in Gujarat, where he chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The report was released on the eve of World Wildlife Day (WWD), observed annually on March 3 worldwide.
- According to the report, India has 6,327 riverine dolphins across 28 rivers in 8 states, with 6,324 dolphins found across the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, and the remaining 3 Indus river dolphins in the Beas river basin in Punjab.
- Assam, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Punjab, and Lakshadweep are identified as the key dolphin hotspot states.
Main Point :- (i) The survey was conducted between 2021 and 2023 by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in partnership with state forest departments of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and non-profit organizations including Aaranyak, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Turtle Survival Alliance, and Wildlife Trust of India.
(ii) UP, with 2,397 dolphins, topped among the 8 states with the highest number of dolphins in the country, followed by Bihar (2,220), West Bengal (WB) (815), and Assam (635).
About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
Chairperson : Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Vice-Chairperson : Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav
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