¨     The second nationwide survey of riverine and estuarine dolphins has been launched.

¨     The survey started from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. It is being carried out under Project Dolphin.
¨     As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the survey will take place in two phases.
¨     The first phase will cover the main stretch of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar. It will also include the Indus River.
¨     The second phase will focus on Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha.
¨     The Ministry said the survey will assess the population status of the Indus River Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphins.
¨     The survey will also assess habitat conditions, threats, and associated conservation-priority fauna.
¨     With this survey, population estimates for the species will be updated.
¨     The survey will also support improved conservation planning under Project Dolphin.
¨     Project Dolphin was started in 2020 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
¨     The previous nationwide survey of 2021–23 found around 6,327 riverine dolphins in India.
¨     This included Ganges River Dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahananda and Brahmaputra systems, and a small population of Indus River Dolphins in the Beas.
¨     Uttar Pradesh and Bihar accounted for the largest numbers.