Ganges river dolphin

The Ganges River dolphin, also known as the susu, is a species of toothed whale belonging to the mammal family Platanistidae. These dolphins inhabit the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Karnaphuli, and Meghna rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.12

River dolphins, including the Ganges River dolphin, are typically found in freshwater environments and are related to whales. They have long beaks and rounded foreheads, distinguishing them from oceanic dolphins. These dolphins navigate murky waters using sophisticated sonar, as their eyes are small and lack lenses. They often swim on their side, using a flipper to probe the river bottom for fish, shrimp, and mollusks.1

The Ganges River dolphin is classified as an endangered species due to factors such as heavy river traffic, hunting, and the construction of dams that disrupt migration. Efforts to clean up the Ganges River have been ongoing, with programs aimed at improving water quality and ecological conservation, which have shown some success in increasing the Gangetic dolphin population.123