KARACHI: WWF-Pakistan and Engro Foundation, the social investment arm of Engro Corporation, entered into the first of its kind partnership for the conservation and management of endangered Indus River dolphins.

According to a press release on Wednesday, the two organisations will work towards protection, conservation and management of the Indus dolphin’s population and its habitat, using internationally developed and tested tools and technological advancements.

Hammad Naqi Khan, director general of WWF-Pakistan, said: “Owning a species that is endemic to the Indus River system is our responsibility because only we can conserve it.”

Ghias Khan, president and CEO of Engro Corporation, said: “We hope this partnership will enable the WWF Network to achieve the zero extinction global goals.”

The project focuses on the dolphin’s core habitat of about 500-kilometre Indus River stretch between Taunsa and Sukkur barrages, which is home to about 1,800 dolphins. Since the Indus dolphin is top predator of the river, its conservation will also support other important species including migratory birds and freshwater turtles.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2022