At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2022 global assessment of Platanista gangetica says EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Ganges river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that is effectively blind and navigates entirely by echolocation. It is assessed as Endangered.
It is the national aquatic animal of India.
Range & habitat
The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and associated river systems of South Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Dams and barrages fragmenting rivers
- Bycatch in fishing nets
- Pollution and reduced water flow
Why it matters
As a top predator of South Asia's great rivers, the Ganges river dolphin is a sensitive indicator of river health and a flagship for freshwater conservation.
Sources
Sources for Ganges River Dolphin
- IUCN Red List — look up Ganges River Dolphin (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ganges river dolphin really blind?
Its eyes lack a lens and it cannot form images, so it relies almost entirely on echolocation to navigate and hunt in murky river water.
Why is the Ganges river dolphin Endangered?
Published assessments cite dams and barrages that fragment rivers, bycatch in fishing nets, pollution, and reduced water flow. See the IUCN Red List.