Population of rare Indus dolphin rises

Islamabad:Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Friday hailed the rising population of Indus dolphin (bhulan), the world’s rarest mammal, as a positive indicator of a healthy ecosystem in the Indus Delta.

In a press statement, the senator appreciated the relevant government agencies and private organisations for helping conserve and breed the Indus dolphin. “In 2001, the number of Indus dolphins was only 965, which has increased to 2,100 according to the 2021 survey. The increase in the number of Indus dolphins is a sign of the improvement of the Indus River's ecosystem. According to the 1879 survey, the number of Indus dolphins in the Indus River was 10,000,” she said.

Ms Sherry regretted that the construction of barrages, human activities, river pollution and other factors had caused the Indus dolphin's numbers to decline drastically. She, however, said joint conservation efforts led to an increase in the number of bhulans in the Indus River, showing that together we can conserve our natural resources.

The senator said that she launched the Living Indus project in 2022, which included the enhancement and conservation of the Indus River ecosystem and watershed.