R. J. Rao

Ganges River Dolphin: Status and Conservation of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista Gangetica Gangetica) in National Chambal Sanctuary, India R. J. Rao

The River Chambal is a principal tributary of the river Yamuna, supports a rich fauna and flora including the Ganges River dolphin, Gharial, Mugger, turtles and wetland birds. The Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica),locally known as Susu, is restricted to the Ganga, Brahamputra, Karnaphuli-Sangu and Meghna river systems and their tributaries. Once believed to be in tens of thousands, their numbers have gradually reduced to 1800-2000 individuals in all the tributaries of its distribution. The subspecies is facing a series of threats to its survival including poaching,habitat destruction and incidental catches in gill nets. Information on the effects of anthropogenic pressure on dolphin distribution is either scanty or completely lacking, and thus are an impediment to effectively understand the conservation needs of the species.