ISLAMABAD, June 7: Minister of State for Environment Malik Amin Aslam on Wednesday said the increasing pollution was a threat to Indus River Dolphin and stressed the need for evolving a comprehensive strategy to save its population.

“The government has been very conscious of the importance of environment and responded to environmental problems by introducing laws, establishing institutions, developing resources and technical capabilities”, the junior minister said.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the launching of a survey report on the conservation of Indus River Dolphin at the United Nation Information Centre.

A comprehensive survey of one of the world’s most endangered dolphins, the Indus River Dolphin, was completed in April, by a team of specialists supported by the Pakistan Wetlands programme.

Gill Braulik, an experienced cetacean specialist who is the coordinator of Indus Dolphin project, said the results of the survey were encouraging as the number of dolphins had increased between Guddu and Sukkur.

However, she stressed that the Indus Dolphin population was by no means safe as it occurred in a very small area and the population was severely fragmented.

She said the species was still critically endangered and remained one of the four most threatened dolphins in the world. The number of dolphins in Punjab is extremely low and a cause for concern.

Ms Braulik said the population was spilt up by barrages and the amount of potential habitat was greatly reduced as water was diverted out of the main Indus River.

She said the recent survey, for the first time, included a comprehensive hydrological evaluation of dolphin habitat. Preliminary results confirmed that dolphin prefer deeper river water.

Albert Reichert, the hydrological expert with the expedition, said the major threats to the River Indus Dolphin include habitat fragmentation, water scarcity and pollution.

A similar survey conducted five years ago, revealed that dolphins’ numbers were 1,100.

The dolphins, endemic to river Indus, has a long beak and a stocky body. It has a low triangular hump on its back in place of a ‘true’ dorsal fin. It is grey-brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish belly. The eyes are extremely small, resembling pinhole openings slightly above the mouth.

The Indus River dolphin measures between 1.5-2.5m in length and weighs 80-90kg (180-200lb). It is found exclusively in freshwater, living not only in the main channels, but also, during the flood season, in seasonal tributaries and the flooded lowlands.

The Indus River dolphin feeds mostly on several species of fish and invertebrates. It travels either as couples or individuals.

Since they do not have a crystalline eye lens, they are blind and navigate their way through river entirely by a sophisticated echolocation or sonar system.

These air-breathing dolphins were formerly common and distributed throughout the Indus River system in Pakistan, from the Himalayan foothills to the mouth of the Indus, and in the main tributaries — Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej — from the hills to their junction with the Indus.

Beginning in the 1930’s, numerous dams and barrages were constructed on the river. This split the dolphin’s population into small groups, degraded its habitat and impeded migration.

As a result, by the 1970’s the abundance and distribution of the Indus River dolphin had significantly declined, and most of the remaining population was concentrated between two of the barrages, the Sukkur and Guddu in Sindh.

The government of Sindh established this region as the Indus River Dolphin Reserve in 1974. The Reserve continues to harbour the majority of the remaining population.—APP