Bangladesh’s iconic Ganges River Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphin are rapidly losing their habitats due to pollution, unregulated river use, and excessive water diversion, according to a new government-backed River Dolphin Atlas by the Bangladesh Forest Department and UNDP.
The atlas identifies at least 10 key winter habitats across major rivers — including the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, Halda, and Karnafuli — but warns that many tributaries have become unsuitable for dolphins during the dry season. Experts estimate that fewer than 1,200 Ganges River Dolphins remain globally, with Bangladesh hosting one of the last significant populations.
The report cites major threats such as industrial and agricultural waste, upstream dams, and heavy boat traffic. Dolphins are frequently killed after getting trapped in fishing nets, and carcasses have been discovered in areas once rich in dolphin activity. Rising salinity in the Sundarbans is also pushing Irrawaddy Dolphins out of their traditional range. Conservationists warn that the disappearance of dolphins indicates a wider ecological crisis in Bangladesh’s river systems.
Despite the declaration of nine dolphin sanctuaries, enforcement remains weak, with illegal fishing and sand extraction persisting in protected zones. Although a 10-year Conservation Action Plan was launched in 2023, nationwide implementation has yet to start. Forest Department officials estimate that 1,352 Ganges River Dolphins still survive in Bangladesh, stressing the urgency of coordinated national efforts to protect them before they vanish.
