Pakistan expands protected habitat for Indus River dolphin as recovery offers hope

Around 11 million to 16 million years ago, the ancestors of the Indus River dolphin entered the muddy waters of the Indus Basin as sea levels were high during the middle Miocene period. Through thousands of years, these blind mammals evolved sophisticated echolocation skills while losing their eyesight. Currently, these unique creatures are found mainly in Pakistan, with a smaller population in northwestern India, swimming on their sides in shallow river waters.

However, their habitat is under threat due to modern changes, including vast networks of dams, canals, and irrigation barrages that have fragmented their range by about 80%. Their population, which was estimated at 10,000 in the late 19th century, dropped to just 617 in 2001, but has since rebounded to roughly 2,000.

Listing as endangered on the IUCN Red List, Pakistan has recently taken action to protect these rare dolphins. In June 2026, the country officially established the Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary, which covers nearly 200 kilometers (123 miles) of the river in Punjab. This new protected area joins an existing conservation zone in Sindh province, southeastern Pakistan, creating a 400-kilometer (249-mile) continuous stretch of legally protected habitat.

This timely protection is crucial for the survival of one of the world's rarest freshwater dolphins.