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The Platanista Gangetica (Ganges River dolphin) is a species of toothed whales that were officially discovered in 1801. They use to live in the Karnaphuli-Sangu and Ganges-Brahmapurta-Meghna river systems, but this species extinct from most of its early dispersed range.
These dolphins are important to the environment because they are a reliable source to know the health of the entire ecosystem.
This species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild because their habitat seems to be one of the most densely populated area. Since the dolphins along with people favor areas of rivers where there are many fish and slower current, it has led to having less fish for people. This results to the dolphins dying by accidentally getting caught in fishing nets. (Bycatch)
It's not just Bycatch that is affecting the Ganges river dolphins. There are other things are human pollution and architecture. Unfortunately the Ganges River Dolphins are still being hunted for oil and meat which are both used medically.
Because of having over fifty dams, the Ganges River Dolphin are divided into isolated groups. This makes it likely for the dolphins to inbreed, and since they cannot move to new areas they are more vulnerable to other threats. The Ganges River Dolphins that are stuck above the dams are exposed to being hunted (illegally). But the pollution mostly affects the Dolphins below the dam, along with vessel traffic and fishing activities. The dams also disturb habitat of the prey, migration, and breeding cycles, leading to less food.
Sadly, every year nine thousand tons of pesticides and six million tons of fertilizers are used in the district of the river. This pollution can directly kill the dolphins and destroy their habitat. River dolphins being the top predator, they are quite known for high levels of toxic chemicals in their body, and is very likely to affect their health. (An Abiotic Factor example)
These Dolphins do need help. Their population ranges from 12 hundred (1,200) to 18 hundred (1,800), and that's from all around the world! WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is encouraging local communities along where the dolphin habitats are located to use natural fertilizers, ban commercial fishing, and to not dispose of domestic sewage in the river.
Even though we need the resources to live, sometimes we over do it. In this case we are taking the habitat away from the Ganges River Dolphins. There is projects around the world that we have for replacing resources we take from nature (Ex. 10 Trees) and there are projects to help keep the world healthy (Ex. 4 Ocean). There's no way we can make the world perfect, but there is a way we can make it better. For this, we can be more careful with what we build in animal habitats and if our actions are very necessary.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/ganges-river-dolphin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_river_dolphin
https://www.goshen.edu/bio/Biol410/bsspapers05/Trishahostette.htm#:~:text=Humans%20affect%20biodiversity%20by%20their,is%20left%20on%20the%20earth.
The Ganges River Dolphin live in freshwater and are blind. How do they hunt? Well, the emit ultrasonic sounds which bounces of to their prey. It pretty much lets the dolphins "see" an image in their mind