Indus River Dolphins, also known as Bhulan, are one of the worlds most endangered mammals and are the second most endangered freshwater river dolphin.
Habitat
Indus River Dolphins are found in the lower parts of the Indus River and the River Beas in India and Pakistan.
Description
Bhulan are a grey-brown colour and may have pink bellies. They have a long snout that can reach up to 20% of their body length, a short dorsal fin only a few cm in height and are functionally blind, so rely on echolocation. Indus River Dolphin have an overall body length of 2.5m and a weight of between 70.3 and 111.1kg.
Diet
Indus river dolphins eat Prawns, Catfish and Carp.
Threats
Indus river dolphins have lots of threats. Their main threat is the building of dams and other barrages that split both the river and the population, preventing migration and mingling of dolphins. Some other threats include water pollution, poaching, bycatch, stranding and use in traditional medicine.
How to help?
There is a ban on poaching but, despite great efforts, Indus river dolphins are still poached for use in traditional medicine, or even just because they eat the fish that the fishermen want to catch. The best way to help them is to not poach, and to discourage others from poaching.
References
World Wildlife Web - https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/indus-river-dolphin
-https://www.wwfpak.org/our_work_/wildlife_2/indus_dolphin/
- https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/indus_river_dolphin_2019.pdf
Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/animal/Indus-river-dolphin
NOAA Fisheries - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/indus-river-dolphin
Sci-News - http://www.sci-news.com/biology/indus-ganges-river-dolphins-09503.html
Faunalytics - https://faunalytics.org/endangered-river-dolphins-india-pakistan/
Animal Diversity Web - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Platanista_minor/
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41757/17628296
Indus River Dolphins are found in the lower parts of the Indus River and the River Beas in India and Pakistan.
Description
Bhulan are a grey-brown colour and may have pink bellies. They have a long snout that can reach up to 20% of their body length, a short dorsal fin only a few cm in height and are functionally blind, so rely on echolocation. Indus River Dolphin have an overall body length of 2.5m and a weight of between 70.3 and 111.1kg.
Diet
Indus river dolphins eat Prawns, Catfish and Carp.
Threats
Indus river dolphins have lots of threats. Their main threat is the building of dams and other barrages that split both the river and the population, preventing migration and mingling of dolphins. Some other threats include water pollution, poaching, bycatch, stranding and use in traditional medicine.
How to help?
There is a ban on poaching but, despite great efforts, Indus river dolphins are still poached for use in traditional medicine, or even just because they eat the fish that the fishermen want to catch. The best way to help them is to not poach, and to discourage others from poaching.
References
World Wildlife Web - https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/indus-river-dolphin
-https://www.wwfpak.org/our_work_/wildlife_2/indus_dolphin/
- https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/indus_river_dolphin_2019.pdf
Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/animal/Indus-river-dolphin
NOAA Fisheries - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/indus-river-dolphin
Sci-News - http://www.sci-news.com/biology/indus-ganges-river-dolphins-09503.html
Faunalytics - https://faunalytics.org/endangered-river-dolphins-india-pakistan/
Animal Diversity Web - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Platanista_minor/
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41757/17628296