Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.7

Ganges Dolphin Project

Environment & Ecology › Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes · Topic 8.7

The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), also called susu, is a nearly blind freshwater mammal that finds its way and prey by echolocation, swims on its side, and lives in the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Karnaphuli river systems. It is India's National Aquatic Animal (declared 2009), is listed Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and CITES Appendix I. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar (1991), between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon, is the only dolphin sanctuary in India. In August 2020 the Prime Minister announced Project Dolphin to conserve river and marine dolphins, led by the Ministry of Environment with the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and a survey reported in 2025 found around 6,300 Ganges dolphins in India, most in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal; check the latest. National Dolphin Day is 5 October.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

At a Glance

Local name Susu
Aquatic Animal Since 2009
IUCN status Endangered
Sanctuary Vikramshila, Bihar
Project Project Dolphin, 2020
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the Crocodile Conservation Project. It covers a river top predator whose fate reflects the health of the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems, and sets up the later topics on rhino and wildlife enforcement. Previous topic: Crocodile Conservation Project. Next topic: Indian Rhino Vision.

What Are the Key Facts About the Ganges River Dolphin?

Aspect	Details
Biology	Long snout with sharp teeth, small eyes with no lens, uses echolocation. Swims on its side, surfaces to breathe with a sound that gives the name susu. Needs to surface often
Range	Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu systems in India, Bangladesh and Nepal; the Indus dolphin is a related subspecies in the Beas in Punjab
Habitat	Deep pools near confluences, with enough water throughout the year
Status	Endangered (IUCN); Schedule I; CITES Appendix I; Convention on Migratory Species Appendix I
Recognition	National Aquatic Animal of India since 2009; National Ganga River Basin Authority declared it
Vikramshila Sanctuary	Bhagalpur district, Bihar, 60 km stretch of the Ganga, declared in 1991 and notified 1994
Project Dolphin	Announced 15 August 2020; involves research, tracking, anti-poaching, reducing fishing nets and river dolphin habitat management; also covers the Irrawaddy and other marine dolphins

What Threatens Dolphins and What Is Being Done?

Dams and barrages: fragment populations and cut flows, as with Farakka and Narora barrages
Entanglement: gillnets cause accidental deaths
Poaching: for oil used as fish bait in some regions
Pollution: industrial and farm waste, plastics and noise from boat traffic
Dredging and waterways: proposed navigation projects under National Waterways Act may disturb dolphins
Sand mining and flow reduction: reduce water depth
Conservation: monitoring using acoustic methods, community education, alternative gear and rescue teams
Namami Gange: river clean-up supports habitat

What Else Should You Remember?

Susu: the name comes from its breathing sound
River dolphin species: Ganges, Indus, Amazon (boto), Yangtze (baiji, probably extinct) and La Plata dolphin
Baiji: China’s Yangtze dolphin, functionally extinct by 2006
Indus river dolphin: Endangered; Punjab Beas Conservation Reserve
Irrawaddy dolphin: brackish water species found in Chilika, Sundarbans and Myanmar
Chilika: has the largest population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India and one of the largest anywhere
Brahmaputra: has dolphin populations in Assam
Kosi and Gandak: rivers with dolphins
Chambal: shared habitat with gharials
Mahananda and Ghaghara: other habitats
Dolphin as indicator: an apex predator that shows river health
Namami Gange: launched 2014 for Ganga rejuvenation
National Ganga Council: reconstituted as the apex body
National Waterway 1: Haldia to Allahabad stretch, overlapping dolphin habitat
Dolphin Day: 5 October is National Dolphin Day
Wetland link: river dolphin habitat includes confluences and oxbow lakes
Fishermen role: local fisherfolk are trained as dolphin mitras
Alternative livelihood: ecotourism and fish farming help
Indus dolphin range: Beas river in Punjab, a small population
Link to previous: see Crocodile Conservation Project
Link to next: see Indian Rhino Vision
Link to marine mammals: see Marine Mammals, Egg-Laying Mammals and Marsupials
Caution: population surveys differ by method; quote as approximate and check the latest
Exam hint: learn 2009 (aquatic animal), 1991 (Vikramshila), 2020 (Project Dolphin), 5 October
Sound production: dolphins produce clicks in the ultrasonic range and use them to build a picture of surroundings even in muddy water
Surfacing: dolphins surface every 30 to 120 seconds, so nets set across channels often drown them
Calves: females give birth to a single calf, and populations recover slowly
Gangetic dolphin census: survey teams use boats, acoustic recorders and visual counts along the main rivers and tributaries
Sanctuary limits: Vikramshila protects only a short stretch, while most dolphins live outside protected areas
River flows: dry-season flow reduction concentrates dolphins into small pools
Conservation action plan: the Ministry prepared a Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin for 2010-2020
Platanista gangetica: the scientific name of the Ganges river dolphin; it was once treated as the same species as the Indus river dolphin, but they are now classed as two subspecies

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Status: Endangered
Sanctuary: Vikramshila
Year: 2009 and 2020
Current affairs link: dolphin survey and waterways
Common errors: calling the dolphin a fish or mixing with Irrawaddy dolphin

As an analytical point, river dolphins signal how well a river system works, so protecting them requires flows, clean water and safe fishing. Balancing waterways and dams with dolphin habitat is the key policy test.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Species River indicator
Threat Dams, nets
Project Dolphin 2020

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Indian Rhino Vision 2020. Next topic: Indian Rhino Vision.

Key People and Terms

Susu River dolphin name
Echolocation Sound navigation
Vikramshila Bihar dolphin sanctuary
Aquatic Animal National status
Apex predator Top consumer
Bycatch Accidental catch

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

National Aquatic Animal since 2009.
Vikramshila: Bihar.
Project Dolphin: 2020.
Status: Endangered.
Day: 5 October.

Do Not Confuse With

Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphin Freshwater versus brackish
Dolphin and porpoise Beaked versus blunt-snouted
National Animal and Aquatic Animal Tiger versus Ganges dolphin

Memory Hook

Susu in Bihar, aquatic since 2009, Project Dolphin in 2020.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for status, sanctuary and dates. These points help.

Species Biology
Threats Dams, nets
Project Measures

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the importance of the Ganges river dolphin and the threats it faces. Examine the objectives of Project Dolphin.”

How to Answer

Species Facts.
Threats Dams.
Project Dolphin.
Way Flows.

GS Relevance

Prelims: species facts, status, sanctuary, Project Dolphin. GS Paper 3: river ecology and conservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Ganges river dolphin important?

The Ganges river dolphin is an apex predator and a sign of the health of the river ecosystem. Its presence shows that the river has enough water, fish and low pollution. It is India's National Aquatic Animal, and protecting it also benefits fish, turtles, gharials and the people who depend on the river.

Where is the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary?

The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is a 60 km stretch of the Ganga river in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon. It was declared a sanctuary in 1991 and is the only sanctuary in India that is meant specially for the Ganges river dolphin.

What is Project Dolphin?

Project Dolphin was announced by the Prime Minister on 15 August 2020 to conserve river and marine dolphins and the aquatic habitats where they live. It plans surveys, use of technology for monitoring, involving local fishing communities, reducing threats like bycatch and pollution, and building capacity.

Why is the Ganges dolphin called blind?

The Ganges river dolphin lives in muddy water where vision is of little use, so its eyes lack a lens and can only sense the direction of light. It finds its way and its prey using echolocation, producing clicks and listening to the echoes, and often swims on its side near the river bottom.

What are the main threats to the Ganges dolphin?

The main threats are accidental entanglement in fishing nets, dams and barrages that fragment habitat and reduce flows, pollution from industry and farms, sand mining, boat traffic and noise, and, in some places, deliberate killing for oil that is used as fish bait.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Ganges river dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal.

True

Since 2009.

2 Vikramshila Sanctuary is located in Uttar Pradesh.

False

In Bihar.

3 The Ganges dolphin uses echolocation.