LAHORE: The Punjab government has officially demarcated the Punjab Indus River Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve the rare freshwater species and its natural habitat. The sanctuary encompasses a stretch of the Indus River that hosts the highest concentration of the endangered dolphin in the province.
Milestone for Dolphin Conservation
Conservationists and the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) hailed the notification as a significant milestone for dolphin conservation and the protection of the Indus River ecosystem. The river stretch from Jambar-Bait Landi Patafi to Guddu Barrage has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary under the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020.
Protecting Habitat and Biodiversity
The initiative aims to safeguard the natural habitat of the Indus River dolphin along with other aquatic and wildlife species, promoting biodiversity conservation. WWF-Pakistan stated that the declaration would strengthen the country's network of protected areas and reflect its commitment to biodiversity conservation.
South Punjab Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger Sheikh Muhammad Zahid noted that the Punjnad-Guddu stretch is considered the most critical habitat for the Indus River dolphin, supporting the highest recorded population of the species in the province. He explained that this river section provides ideal conditions for feeding, breeding, and movement of the dolphins, making legal protection a conservation priority.
Conservation Priority
"The new wildlife sanctuary will not only help safeguard the natural habitat of the Indus River dolphin but also strengthen the protection of the entire aquatic ecosystem of the Indus River," Zahid said. According to WWF-Pakistan, the Indus River remains the last major natural habitat for one of the world's rarest freshwater dolphin species.
Conservation experts estimate that around 2,000 dolphins currently survive in the wild, underscoring the urgency of protecting their remaining habitat. Environmental experts warn that changes in river flows, pollution, illegal hunting, and increasing human activities have intensified threats to the dolphin's habitat.
