Mammals

( River Dolphin )
Indus Blind Dolphin
(Platanista minor)

PHOTO CREDIT:AP photo

Local name: Bhulan (Urdu, Sindhi)

Discription and Biology:

Description: The specific name, minor, refers to the dolphins' supposedly smaller size. Until the
1970s, this species was thought to be the same as the Ganges River Dolphin.The Indus River
Dolphin has a long beak which thickens toward the tip, revealing the large teeth; the mouthline
curves upward. The body is stocky with a rounded belly, the flippers are large and paddle-shaped,
and there is a low triangular hump in place of a 'true' dorsal. The forehead is steep and the blowhole
is on the left of the head, above the tiny, poorly-seeing eye. The tail flukes are broad in relation to
the body size. Indus River Dolphins are grey-brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish belly, and
measure between 1.5 and 2.5m in length, weighing a maximum of 90kg.

Social Behavior:Indus River Dolphins travel either as couples or individuals. Since these dolphins
do not have a crystalline eye lens they are effectively blind; all they can do is detect the direction
and intensity of light. Navigation, therefore, is entirely by a sophisticated echolocation system.
This blindness is one of the reasons why these dolphins swim on one side underwater, with one
flipper trailing in the muddy riverbed. The physical touch gives the dolphins important information
about their surroundings and helps them find food.
Diet:These dolphins take fish and crustaceans. (all above information from Cetacea Online and
Animal Info).

Habitat and Distribution:

The Indus River Dolphin is the only cetacean to inhabit the Indus river. These dolphins favour the
silt-laden, turbid waters of the Indus river system, at temperatures between 8°C and 33°C.

The Indus River Dolphin is one of the world's most endangered mammals and has been listen in
IUCN's list of threatened species. This dolphin is endemic to Pakistan. The species inhabits the
Indus river in Pakistan from Kotri, Sind, to Jinnah, northwestern Punjab. The Indus River dolphin
was apparently formerly common and distributed throughout the Indus River system in Pakistan,
from the Himalayan foothills to the mouth of the Indus, and in the main tributaries - Jhelum,
Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej - from the hills to their junction with the Indus . Beginning in the 1930's,
numerous dams and barrages were constructed in the Indus. This split the dolphin's population into
small groups, degraded its habitat and impeded migration. As a result, by the 1970's the abundance
and distribution of the Indus River dolphin had significantly declined, and most of the remaining
population was concentrated between two of the barrages, the Sukkur and Guddu barrages in Sind
Province. The government of Sind established this region as the Indus River Dolphin Reserve in
1974. The Reserve continues to harbor the majority of the remaining population. Its population
has apparently increased there, while few of the dolphin remain elsewhere. Besides Sind Province,
the Indus River dolphin also exists in Punjab Province, but it continues to decline. The Indus River
Dolphins have suffered as a result of incidental and direct exploitation. They have been
accidentally caught in fishing nets, but have also been hunted for meat, oil and traditional
medicines. The most recent population servey was done in 2001, by WWF-Pakistan, the Wildlife
Departments of Sindh, the Punjab and the NWFP, the Adventure Foundation of Pakistan, the
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society of UK and Karavan Leaders. During the survey 965
dolphins were counted in the river system. The survey which started from Kalabagh in the Punjab
on March 12, ended at Hyderabad, 1,400 kilometres downstream, after seven weeks. A section,
about 40 kilometres long, between Sukkur and Kotri barrages was missed for security reasons.
Considering that the mammal is also found in these stretches, the total number could be 1,000 or
slightly higher. The team counted two dolphins between the Jinnah and Chashma Barrages, 84
between Chashma and Taunsa Barrages, 259 between Taunsa and Guddu Barrages, 602 between
Guddu and Sukkur Barrages and 18 between the 500 kilometres stretch between Sukkur and Kotri
Barrages. The number of mammals counted is greater than earlier estimates of 500-700. It could,
however, not be considered enough to take the species off the endangered list. .(all above
information from Cetacea Online, Survey of Pakistan Indus river dolphins 2001, and Animal
Info).

Population estimated by years:

1974: 450 - 600 (Nowak & Paradiso 1983)

Late 1970's: 400 (Burton & Pearson 1987)

1984: 600 (Macdonald 1984)

1986: 400 - 600 (Bonner 1989)

1989: 500 (Klinowska 1991)

1998: Probably fewer than 1000 (Reeves & Chaudhry 1998)

2001: 965 total (See MAP below), Breakup = Two dolphins between the Jinnah and Chashma
Barrages, 84 between Chashma and Taunsa Barrages, 259 between Taunsa and Guddu Barrages,
602 between Guddu and Sukkur Barrages and 18 between the 500 kilometres stretch between
Sukkur and Kotri Barrages (Survey done by WWF-Pakistan, the Wildlife Departments of Sindh,
the Punjab and the NWFP, the Adventure Foundation of Pakistan, the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society of UK and Karavan Leaders)

MAP Source = WWF-Pakistan