Submitted to Dr. Abdul Qadir
Submitted by Tayyaba Bashir
Roll no 19
Class
Bs 5th semester (M)
Conservation status of Indus blind Dolphin
Background
The Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is highly endemic to the Indus River, the largest river of Pakistan. The species is nominated as endangered by IUCN, showing critical danger of extinction in coming future time. About 100 years back, the Indus river dolphin was found from the Himalayan foothills to Delta of the Indus River and also in its …show more content…
These are the two populations of dolphins which are geographically separated and have not interact for many hundreds of years. Based on different characteristics and traits ie different skull structure, vertebrae and lipid composition scientists declared the two populations as separate species in 1970s. In 1998 the results were questioned and the classification changed to a single species containing two subspecies. Now in present time, there are two subspecies recognized in the genus Platanista: Platanista gangetica minor (the Indus river dolphin) and Platanista gangetica gangetica (the Ganges river …show more content…
Use of the river systems in the sub-continent cause habitat destruction for dolphins. Entanglement in fishing nets can cause significant damage to local population numbers. Some individuals are still taken each year and their oil and meat used as a liniment, as an aphrodisiac and as bait for catfish. Irrigation has lowered water levels throughout their ranges. Poisoning of the water supply from industrial and agricultural chemicals may have also contributed to population decline. Perhaps the most significant issue is the building of dozens of dams along many rivers, causing the segregation of populations and a narrowed gene pool in which dolphins can breed. There are currently three sub-populations of Indus dolphins considered capable of long-term
Submitted by Tayyaba Bashir
Roll no 19
Class
Bs 5th semester (M)
Conservation status of Indus blind Dolphin
Background
The Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is highly endemic to the Indus River, the largest river of Pakistan. The species is nominated as endangered by IUCN, showing critical danger of extinction in coming future time. About 100 years back, the Indus river dolphin was found from the Himalayan foothills to Delta of the Indus River and also in its …show more content…
These are the two populations of dolphins which are geographically separated and have not interact for many hundreds of years. Based on different characteristics and traits ie different skull structure, vertebrae and lipid composition scientists declared the two populations as separate species in 1970s. In 1998 the results were questioned and the classification changed to a single species containing two subspecies. Now in present time, there are two subspecies recognized in the genus Platanista: Platanista gangetica minor (the Indus river dolphin) and Platanista gangetica gangetica (the Ganges river …show more content…
Use of the river systems in the sub-continent cause habitat destruction for dolphins. Entanglement in fishing nets can cause significant damage to local population numbers. Some individuals are still taken each year and their oil and meat used as a liniment, as an aphrodisiac and as bait for catfish. Irrigation has lowered water levels throughout their ranges. Poisoning of the water supply from industrial and agricultural chemicals may have also contributed to population decline. Perhaps the most significant issue is the building of dozens of dams along many rivers, causing the segregation of populations and a narrowed gene pool in which dolphins can breed. There are currently three sub-populations of Indus dolphins considered capable of long-term