New Delhi, January 18, 2026: The Union environment ministry has initiated the second nationwide dolphin census, aimed at assessing the population, habitat conditions, and conservation needs of India’s freshwater and estuarine dolphins. The census, part of Project Dolphin, will employ advanced scientific tools and standardized survey protocols to strengthen evidence-based conservation planning for the country’s riverine ecosystems.

According to a ministry release, the survey began with 26 researchers operating from three boats, recording ecological and habitat parameters while deploying technologies such as hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring. The census will cover India’s major river systems in multiple phases.

The first phase focuses on the main stem of the Ganga, from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar, as well as the Indus River, which hosts a small population of Indus River Dolphins. The second phase will extend to the Brahmaputra, tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha, and will additionally include the Irrawaddy Dolphin, previously not part of the nationwide survey.

The survey aims not only to estimate dolphin populations but also to assess habitat conditions, threats, and associated conservation-priority fauna, generating robust scientific data to guide policies and management strategies for India’s river ecosystems. The initiative is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, in collaboration with state forest departments and partner organizations such as WWF India, Aaranyak, and the Wildlife Trust of India.

In the previous nationwide survey conducted between 2021 and 2023, India was estimated to host 6,327 riverine dolphins, including Ganges River Dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahananda, and Brahmaputra systems, along with a small population of Indus River Dolphins in the Beas. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recorded the largest numbers, followed by West Bengal and Assam, highlighting the Gangetic basin as critical for long-term dolphin conservation.

“The ongoing survey follows the same standardized methodology as the previous exercise but covers new stretches and operational areas and includes the Irrawaddy Dolphin in the Sundarbans and Odisha,” the ministry noted. This expanded coverage will update population estimates, evaluate threats and habitat conditions, and support improved conservation planning under Project Dolphin.

As part of the preparatory work, a regional training workshop for forest staff from 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh was held at Bijnor. Further training sessions will be conducted for every 10–15 districts during the course of the census to ensure standardized field capacity.

The census also coincides with regulatory considerations for navigation projects on rivers that serve as dolphin habitats. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved fairway maintenance in the Sultanganj-Kahalgaon stretch of National Waterways-1 in Bihar to provide navigational channels for vessel movement. This stretch lies within the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, a critical habitat for the endangered Gangetic Dolphin, which is listed as a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

To mitigate potential risks to aquatic life during dredging, the NBWL has mandated that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) submit a detailed dredging plan to the Bihar Forest Department before starting operations. The plan must specify exact dredging locations, methodology, depth, timing, and duration of operations to ensure proper assessment, monitoring, and protection of the river ecosystem.

The second dolphin census represents a significant step in India’s efforts to conserve freshwater biodiversity and maintain the ecological integrity of its river systems. By generating comprehensive population and habitat data, the survey will support long-term conservation strategies for the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and associated river systems, ensuring that endangered dolphin species receive effective protection amid developmental pressures and habitat challenges.

The initiative underscores India’s commitment to evidence-based wildlife management and reflects growing recognition of dolphins as flagship species whose protection benefits entire riverine ecosystems and communities dependent on these waters.