Snout of a poached Ganges Dolphin in the Koshi River, Nepal.

Four species of River Dolphins reside in freshwater rivers: the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista ganagetica), the Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifier), the Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor) and the Amazon Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) (WWF Nepal, 2006). The Ganges River Dolphins (Platanista gangetica) are among world’s most endangered species which is distributed through Ganga-Bhramhaputra river systems of India, Bangladesh and Nepal (Shrestha et al, 1989) but the most endangered population are in Nepal.

An adult dolphin diving in the southern section of the Koshi Barrage, Nepal

The Ganges River dolphins were distributed in Karnali, Mahakali, Narayani and Koshi Rivers of Nepal in the past. But due to dam construction, habitat manipulation, pollution and lack of awareness among people, only remnant population of dolphins are restricted to Koshi and Karnali rivers of Nepal. Presently, a study by WWF Nepal has shown the presence of 3-4 dolphins in Karnali but no such study updating existing information about the status and distribution of River dolphins has been done in Koshi river of Nepal. Very little information about dolphins in Koshi River is becoming constraint for protection and conservation of this endangered mammal. The dolphin status in Koshi River is a matter of concern and there is an urgent need to update its current status. This is what the project aims to do.

The project aims to identify the hotspots of Ganges River Dolphins and aims to update existing information on its status and distribution describing its habitats in the Koshi river of Nepal. Further, it aims to identify the threats both direct and indirect causes to the reduction of dolphins at local level and thus aims to provide recommendations for its protection focusing more on management perspective at policy level. The project is focused on the main stream of Koshi River, the biggest river of Nepal originating from glaciers and snow fed lakes of eastern Nepal and flows for a length of 730 km. It provides life to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a protected area under the World Conservation Union (IUCN) category IV and also a Ramsar site of international significance. The need and opportunity of linking hotspots of dolphins and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve will be highlighted for proper management of habitats of this flagship species.

The output of this study will not only update existing information on status and distribution of Dolphins in the area but also identify the threats at local level. It will provide recommendations/suggestions for conservation strategies of this species and for the possibility of linking dolphin habitats and Wildlife Reserve. The findings of this study will certainly be the base for different national and international organizations for long lasting contribution to the conservation and management of dolphins in Nepal. In particular, the information will assist the country to take measures that will contribute to the achievement of 2010 biodiversity targets adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.