CSB IAS ACADEMY

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TOPIC OF THE DAY (DATE: 01.11.2023)
Global Declaration of River Dolphins
WHY IN NEWS?
11 Asian and South American countries recently signed a Global Declaration of River Dolphins
in Bogotá, Columbia to save the surviving species of river dolphins from extinction by 2030.
BACKGROUND
• The Declaration was prompted by the devastating news of over 150 dolphins found dead in the
Amazon in Lake Tefé, Brazil in October 2023 and a record drought caused by a historic El Niño
season, emphasizing the need for international efforts to protect river dolphins.
• River Dolphins are top predators in some of the world’s greatest river systems and
important indicators of the river’s health. This initiative comes after decades of alarming
population declines in river dolphins, with numbers plummeting by 73% since the 1980s due to
various threats, including unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, habitat loss, and even the
impact of climate change.
WHAT ARE RIVER DOLPHINS?
• River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in
freshwater or brackish water.
• River dolphins are any of six species of small, usually freshwater aquatic mammals that are related
to whales (Order Cetacea).
• A seventh river dolphin species, the Chinese river dolphin, or baiji, was declared extinct in 2007.
• Distribution: These dolphins are found in rivers of south-central Asia, China, and South
America and in the coastal waters of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
• Common Features: They have slender beaks lined with lots of teeth, small eyes, flexible necks
and bodies, pronounced forehead melons, large flippers, and small dorsal fins.
• The six surviving species of river dolphins are the Amazon, Indus, Ganges, Irrawaddy, Tucuxi, and
Yangtze finless porpoises.
1. Amazon River Dolphin found in Freshwater rivers in South America.
IUCN Status – Endangered
2. Ganges River Dolphin found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river
systems of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. IUCN Status – Endangered.
3. Indus River Dolphins are native to the Indus River in Pakistan. IUCN Status: Endangered
4. Irrawaddy Dolphin found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia and three rivers i.e.,
Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo), Mekong and Chillika Lake (India).
IUCN Status: Endangered.
5. Tucuxi Dolphin found in the Amazon River system in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.IUCN
Status: Endangered
6. Yangtze Finless Porpoise found in China’s Yangtze River. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RIVER DOLPHINS
• River dolphin populations indicate river health.
• Rivers provide livelihoods for communities.

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 CSB IAS ACADEMY
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• River dolphin populations indicate the overall health of river ecosystems. Their conservation
also benefits the many communities who depend on these rivers for their livelihoods. The
declaration’s goals around habitat protection and reducing threats will boost conservation of
entire river basins.
GLOBAL DECLARATION OF RIVER DOLPHINS – KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• This declaration is designed to guide 14 nations where river dolphins inhabit, with a focus on
responsible freshwater dolphin conservation.
• Eleven countries signed a global declaration for the protection of river dolphins by
2030. Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru and
Venezuela.
• These countries are committing to work on Gangetic Dolphin Protection Status:
transboundary research-driven solutions and ➢ IUCN Status: Endangered
recommendations to mitigate threats facing river ➢ Wild Life (Protection) Act,
dolphins. 1972: Schedule I.
The Eight Pillars of the Global Declaration for River ➢ Convention on International Trade
Dolphins are: in Endangered Species
1. Creating a network of protected areas (CITES): Appendix I (most
2. Enhancing management of river dolphin sites endangered).
3. Expanding research and monitoring ➢ Convention on Migratory Species
4. Engaging local communities and Indigenous (CMS): Appendix II.
Peoples ➢ Gangetic Dolphin Distribution:
5. Eradicating unsustainable fishing practices Seven states namely, Assam, Uttar
6. Improving water quality and quantity Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
7. Celebrating World River Dolphin Day to raise Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and
awareness West Bengal.
8. Increasing resource allocation and partnerships
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA EFFORTS FOR CONSERVATION OF DOLPHIN
• Gangetic river dolphin is listed in Schedule –I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, according
to the highest degree of protection.
• Gangetic river dolphin has been designated as the National Aquatic Animal of India.
• The Ministry has included the Gangetic River dolphin as one of the 22 critically endangered
species for providing financial assistance to States under the Centrally sponsored scheme
‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’.
• Important habitats of Gangetic River dolphins along the Ganges River have been notified as
Protected Areas, such as Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar.
• A comprehensive action plan (2022-2047) has been developed to ensure the well-being of the
river dolphin and aquatic habitats, the role of various stakeholders and line Ministries have been
identified.
• Project Dolphin is an Indian government initiative to conserve both riverine and oceanic dolphin
species launched in 2021.

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