Madhya Pradesh is expanding its conservation focus to include freshwater species, launching a scientific survey of the endangered Gangetic river dolphin in the Chambal river system. The state forest department has approved a three-year study in the National Chambal Sanctuary under the Centre-backed Rangewide Estimation of Riverine and Estuarine Dolphin (Second Cycle) as part of Project Dolphin of the Union environment ministry.
Survey Details and Timeline
The survey, scheduled between 2026 and 2028, will be coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, in partnership with state forest departments and conservation organisations. Fieldwork in Madhya Pradesh began with a summer survey in May-June 2026, followed by winter assessments from October 2026 to January 2027. Researchers will estimate dolphin abundance, study river habitats, and document aquatic biodiversity across the sanctuary.
Methodology and Tools
The project will use modern tools such as hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring, camera-based documentation, and field observations to understand dolphin movement and behaviour. Camera traps will be installed in Chambal's ravines to record terrestrial wildlife linked to the river ecosystem.
Conservation Context
The survey follows the first nationwide dolphin census (2021-2023), which estimated around 6,327 river dolphins across India's major river systems, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, and Brahmaputra. The National Chambal Sanctuary, stretching nearly 435 km across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, emerged as a key stronghold with an estimated 167 Gangetic river dolphins.
State Chief Wildlife Warden Samita Rajora emphasised that the initiative reflects evolving conservation priorities. "Madhya Pradesh has built a strong conservation framework for species such as tigers, cheetahs, elephants, and wild buffaloes. We are now expanding our focus to freshwater biodiversity because healthy rivers are equally important for ecological balance," she said.
Broader Significance
Rajora added that the study is not merely a population estimation exercise. It will improve understanding of river habitats, associated biodiversity, and conservation challenges in the Chambal ecosystem, enabling informed decisions. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) L Krishnamurthy noted that the standardised methodology across states makes data comparable and policy-oriented, helping assess population trends, habitat quality, and threats for long-term management.
Protected Species and Threats
Declared India's national aquatic animal in 2009, the Gangetic river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Researchers will also monitor other protected aquatic species, including gharials and mugger crocodiles, while assessing threats such as habitat fragmentation, declining river flows, accidental entanglement in fishing nets, and freshwater degradation.
The expanded second-cycle survey will cover additional river stretches nationwide and include estuarine species like the Irrawaddy dolphin, supporting evidence-based conservation planning under Project Dolphin for India's increasingly stressed river ecosystems.
