India Marks Historic First With Satellite Tagging Of Endangered Ganges River Dolphin In Assam
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The satellite tagging will help experts gather crucial data to protect the endangered species by better understanding its habitat needs and movement patterns
Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is under threat due to its rapidly degrading natural habitat, river pollution, as well as construction of dams and barrages. Image/News18
India has successfully completed the first-ever satellite tagging of the Ganges River Dolphin in Assam, marking an important milestone for Project Dolphin. This is part of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)’s plan to protect the iconic yet elusive species through a better understanding of its habitat needs and movement patterns.
Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is under threat due to its rapidly degrading natural habitat, river pollution, as well as construction of dams and barrages. In 2020, the government launched Project Dolphin to conserve the vital species.
Calling it a historic milestone for wildlife conservation, union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said the project will deepen the understanding of conserving India’s national aquatic animal. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC)-led project is funded by the National CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority) and supported by the Assam forest department and Aaranyak.
Why was the tagging done?
Despite its wide home range, there is very little information about the ecological needs of the Ganges River Dolphin. Scientists highlight that it has a unique ecology, and its elusive nature compounds the challenge, as it surfaces for only 5–30 seconds at a time. The tagging exercise will help them understand their seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilisation, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems, which is crucial for any scientific conservation interventions.
“Tagging River Dolphin will contribute to evidence-based conservation strategies that are urgently needed for this species. I am delighted that this historic step has been taken,” said WII director Virendra R Tiwari.
The Ganges River Dolphin is nearly blind and relies on echolocation for its biological needs. Around 90% of the species’ population is in India, historically distributed across the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems, but its number has dwindled alarmingly over the past century.
“The exercise will help conserve critical habitats within these vast river ecosystems. This is vital not only for aquatic biodiversity but also for sustaining thousands of people who depend on these resources,” said project investigator Dr Vishnupriya Kolipakam, adding that it will also lead to accurate tracking and monitoring of the dolphins’ behaviour and environment.
What next?
The healthy male dolphin was tagged with lightweight devices emitting signals compatible with Argos satellite systems, after which it was released under veterinary care. According to project officials, these tags can function effectively even with the dolphins’ limited surface timing and are designed to minimise any disturbance to their natural movements.
Since the Ganges River Dolphin is an apex predator and serves as an umbrella species for the river systems, the government plans to extend the tagging initiative to other states where the creature is found. This is part of the comprehensive, wide-range research to develop conservation action plans and fill existing knowledge gaps for the long-term conservation of the species.
