**Executive Summary**
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin, starting from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The survey, coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), aims to assess the population, habitat, and threats to Ganges, Indus, and Irrawaddy dolphins. The initial phase of the survey commenced with 26 researchers on January 17, 2026, and is expected to continue intermittently.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Overview:**
* Second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins initiated under Project Dolphin.
* Coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with State Forest Departments and conservation organizations.
* **Survey Details:**
* Survey commenced with 26 researchers using boats and technology like hydrophones.
* Initial phase covers the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River.
* Second phase will cover Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, Sundarbans, and Odisha.
* A regional training workshop for forest staff from 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh was held at Bijnor before the survey.
* Further training will be conducted intermittently for every 10–15 districts.
* **Scope and Objectives:**
* Assess the status of Ganges, Indus, and Irrawaddy dolphins.
* Evaluate habitat condition, threats, and associated conservation-priority fauna.
* Update population estimates, particularly for the Irrawaddy dolphin in new areas like Sundarbans and Odisha.
* Support evidence-based conservation planning and policy action for India's river ecosystems.
* Building on the previous nationwide survey (2021-23) that recorded an estimated 6,327 riverine dolphins.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
*Impact:* Responsible for the overall conservation of Dolphins in the country and rolled out the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin.
*Action Required:* Review the survey results to guide conservation strategies and policy decisions.
**Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun**
*Impact:* Responsible for coordinating the survey.
*Action Required:* Oversee and execute the survey according to the established protocols, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
**State Forest Departments**
*Impact:* Involved in conducting the survey.
*Action Required:* Support the WII in conducting the survey within their respective jurisdictions, providing necessary resources and assistance.
**WWF India, Aaranyak, and Wildlife Trust of India**
*Impact:* Partner conservation organizations involved in the project.
*Action Required:* Collaborate with WII and State Forest Departments, providing expertise and support for the survey and conservation efforts.
**Researchers**
*Impact:* Those conducting the survey.
*Action Required:* Record ecological and habitat parameters using technologies such as hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring.
**Dolphin Populations**
*Impact:* The population of dolphins will be assessed, which informs conservation efforts.
*Action Required:* None, however their future depends on the outcome of the survey.
Key Entities Referenced
Project Dolphin: An initiative for the conservation of riverine and estuarine dolphins in India.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Union Ministry responsible for rolling out the rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins.
National Board for Wild Life (NBWL): The board that released the initial population estimation results which led to the rangewide estimation.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII): Coordinating agency for the Pan India population estimation of dolphins.
Bijnor: Location in Uttar Pradesh where the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins started.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Second Rangewide Estimation of Riverine and
Estuarine Dolphins in India starts from Bijnor
प्रव तथ: 17 JAN 2026 2:46PM by PIB Delhi
Following up the release of population estimation result of first round by the Prime Minister in the
National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) at Gir in March last year, and to take forward the conservation of
Dolphins in the country, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change rolled out the
second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin today from Bijnor,
Uttar Pradesh.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change,Shri Bhupendra Yadav had launched the
2nd round of Pan India population estimation of dolphins and their estimation protocol at Dehradun during
last wildlife week. This programme is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, in
collaboration with State Forest Departments and partner conservation organizations WWF India, Aaranyak
and Wildlife Trust of India.
A regional training workshop for forest staff from 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh was held yesterday at
Bijnor, and further training would be conducted intermittently for every 10–15 districts to ensure
standardized field capacity, as the survey progresses.
The survey commenced with 26 researchers in three boats, recording ecological and habitat parameters,
and using technologies such as hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring. In the first phase, the
survey will cover the main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River. In the
second phase, it will cover Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha.Apart from the Ganges River Dolphin, the survey will assess the status of the Indus River Dolphin and
Irrawaddy Dolphins, along with habitat condition, threats, and associated conservation-priority fauna. This
initiative will generate robust scientific data to support evidence-based conservation planning and policy
action for India’s river ecosystems.
The previous nationwide survey (2021–23) recorded an estimated around 6,327 riverine dolphins in India,
including Ganges River Dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahananda
and Brahmaputra systems, and a small population of Indus River Dolphins in the Beas. Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar accounted for the largest numbers, followed by West Bengal and Assam, highlighting the critical
importance of the Gangetic basin for long-term dolphin conservation.
The ongoing survey follows the same standardized methodology as the previous exercise, however will
additionally cover new stretches and operational areas to include a new species, Irrawaddy dolphin,
estimation in Sundarbans and Odisha. This expanded spatial coverage will help update population
estimates for this species, assess threats and habitat conditions and support improved conservation
planning under Project Dolphin.*****
VM
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