ECOLOGY, HYDROLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE INDUS RIVER DOLPHIN: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY REVIEW

Abstract

Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor) is one of the few obligate freshwater cetaceans in the world which is an endemic and endangered species of Indus River system. This review combines hydrological, physiological, behavioral, and conservation viewpoints to synthesize current knowledge based on ecology and needs of Indus River Dolphin. Following a review of the taxonomic status, evolutionary history, and biogeographic distribution, we analyze a significant amount of data related to reproductive biology, food ecology, habitat use, population dynamics, and sensory adaptations. Particularly, the link between river hydrology and dolphin ecology is studied, and how flow management, sediment load, and channel architecture affect habitat distribution and availability. Climate driven threats that could change river conditions in the future are assessed alongside anthropogenic pressures, including pollution, fishing by-catch, vessel disturbance, habitat fragmentation from barrages, and water abstraction. To evaluate successful conservation strategies and lingering issues, conservation measures, management plans, and policy frameworks are evaluated. In order to direct future multidisciplinary research and evidence-based conservation planning, important research gaps and priority directions are finally highlighted. This review offers a scientific basis for preserving the integrity of riverine ecosystems throughout South Asia and safeguarding this endangered freshwater cetacean by fusing ecological theory with data specific to a given region.