‘Population of blind dolphins on the rise amid persistent threats’

Experts present recommendations to save

endangered mammals from man-made and natural hazards

Wildlife experts have termed dumping of untreated sewage, industrial waste and pesticides as well as accidental entanglement and entrapment in canals as some of the major threats to the Indus Blind Dolphins.

They called for coordinated efforts of various public departments and private organisations to save the most endemic freshwater dolphin species, which is on the verge of extinction.

They expressed satisfaction over the combined efforts resulting in enhanced awareness among fishing communities, government institutions and the public due to which the dolphins’ population has been on the rise in the past few years, but they said the mammals are still under threat as they have reduced their habitat from 3,500km to a mere 700km.

The international and local experts were addressing a one-day conference on ‘Conservation and Management of Blind Indus River Dolphin’ organised by the Sindh Barrage Improvement Project (SBIP) in collaboration with the provincial government, WWF-Pakistan and University of Sindh at a local hotel on Monday.

Specialist Dr Gill Braulik, SBIP Engineer Chris Hall, Irrigation Special Secretary (Technical) Junaid Memon, Sindh Wildlife Department Conservator Saeed Baloch, World Bank’s Takeaki Sato, environmentalist Mohammed Ali Shishmahal and others presented their recommendations on saving the endangered dolphins from man-made and natural hazards.

Dr Gill Braulik discussed the threats to the dolphins in the Indus River and its tributaries, terming barrages, entrapment in canals, accidental entanglement in fishing nets and river pollution as some of the major causes of their decline.

Later, she told The News that the dolphins had disappeared from 80 per cent of the Indus River. “Once found up to 3,500km, including in Chenab, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum and other rivers, most of the dolphins are now confined to 700km between the Chashma to Sukkur barrages.”

She added that the unique freshwater mammal’s population was on the decline due to activities of the humans as well as natural causes, including super floods. “Concerted and coordinated efforts are required to save them for our future generations.”

She claimed that despite increasing river pollution due to dumping of untreated sewage, industrial pollutants and pesticides, the population of the dolphins was on the rise because of growing awareness and coordinated efforts of various government departments. She hoped the mammals would survive the imminent threats.

Dr Gill urged the communities living along the canals to report the presence of dolphins to the authorities so they could be saved and released back to their habitat in the Indus River.

She said the fisher folk should also safely release the mammals in the water if they were accidentally entangled in their fishing nets.

Junaid Memon said the irrigation department was doing everything possible for protecting the rare freshwater species, including the Indus Blind Dolphins.

He added that in the past, environmental protection was ignored and projects were not designed in view of environmental issues, but today these aspects, especially protection of aquatic animals, was a top priority while carrying out development projects at rivers and canals.

Saeed Baloch highlighted the wildlife department’s role in protecting the Indus River Dolphins and said their teams had so far saved dozens of dolphins that had got trapped in the canals or were accidentally entangled in fishing nets.

Chris Hall said steps had been taken to protect the dolphins during rehabilitation of barrages and canals to protect the mammals from harm.

Irrigation Deputy Director (Hydrology) Imran Aziz Tunio, SBIP Project Director Shafqat Hussain Wadho and others also addressed the participants.