GUWAHATI: A recent report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has revealed a concerning 50% decline in the population of river dolphins in the Subansiri River over the past six years.
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The study recorded 23 dolphins in 2007,which increased to an estimated 48 dolphins recorded in 2018. However, the latest 2024 survey has documented a sharp drop to just 22 dolphins.
As key indicators of a river’s ecological health, the declining population of river dolphins in the Subansiri River signals broader environmental concerns. Wildlife experts are advocating for stricter regulations to safeguard the species and their habitat.
In Assam, a total population estimate of 635 dolphins were found in an area of 1297 km, comprising the Brahmaputra River, and its tributaries Subansiri, Kulsi, Beki. Kopili and Barak. The report noted a low encounter rate of dolphins per km at only 0.49 despite the habitat status in the rivers being comparatively good.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest dolphin estimate of 2397 dolphins in an area of 3453 km with an encounter rate of 0.69/km, followed by Bihar with 2220 dolphins in an area of 1368 km with an encounter rate of 1.62/km. Jharkhand reported 162 dolphins in an area of 59 km with a high encounter rate of 2.75/km.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh reported 95 dolphins in an area of 195 km with an encounter rate of 0.49/km, while West Bengal reported 815 dolphins in an area of 2366 km with an encounter rate of 0.34/km. Punjab reported the lowest population of 3 dolphins in an area of 101 km at an encounter rate of 0.03/km.