India’s first-ever comprehensive river dolphin survey has estimated the presence of 6,327 river dolphins across the country, with Assam recording 635 individuals in its five rivers.

The report, released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife in Junagadh, Gujarat recently.

The River Dolphin in Assam is known as Khihu. In a landmark effort in wildlife conservation, a male Gangetic Dolphin has been satellite tagged at Kulsi River near Guwahati.

It was for the first time in India and the world that the Gangetic River Dolphin was tagged.

Akashvani Correspondent reports, the Gangetic River dolphin is called Khihu in Assam. According to the survey there are 635 river dolphins in the state.

The findings indicate that Assam remains one of the key conservation areas for the endangered River Dolphin and the Brahmaputra River holds a stable and barrier-free population of these dolphins, making it a critical habitat for their long-term survival.

The survey found that the population of River Dolphins in the Brahmaputra River is consistent with the 2020 estimate by the Wildlife Institute of India.

This suggests that the population has remained stable since 1997, showing signs of increase over the years.

However, the survey raised concerns about other river systems in Assam. The Barak River, once home to these dolphins, recorded no sightings, indicating possible local extinction.

Additionally, the Subansiri River has shown a rapid decline in dolphin numbers, flagging it as an area of concern for conservationists.

The survey, conducted under Project Dolphin, underscores the need for targeted conservation efforts in Assam’s river systems. The report stressed that local communities must be actively involved in protecting these aquatic mammals.

It also highlighted the importance of conserving critical river habitats to ensure the survival of dolphins and other species that share their ecosystem.