Indus River Blind Dolphins – All you Need to Know

The Indus River dolphin or blind dolphin has a long beak, a stocky body, a dorsal fin with a low triangular hump on its back, and is grey or brown in colour, with a pinkish belly on occasion. The eyes are extremely small, resembling pinholes just above the mouth. The length of the Indus River dolphin is 1.5 to 2.5 metres (5 to 8 feet) and it weighs 80 to 90 kg (180 to 200 lb). It can only be found in freshwater, such as main water channels, seasonal tributaries and flooded lowlands. The dolphin prefers silty, turbid waters with temperatures ranging from 8 to 33 degrees Celsius (46 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit).

Blind Dolphins of Indus River

Blind dolphin primarily feeds on various fish and invertebrates near the bottom of the river. By using echolocation,it swims on one side, probes the river bottom with its snout and flipper. The high densities can be found at river confluence, areas with weak currents, near irrigation canals, near villages and ferry routes.

Blind dolphin of the Indus River dolphin was once common and widespread throughout the 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) Indus River system. It was discovered from the Himalayan foothills and in the tributaries running from the hills to the Indus river. Its range had shrunk to less than 700 kilometres (430 miles) of river length. The remaining population lived in Sindh now, between the Sukkur and Guddu barrages. The blind dolphin is found in Punjab but its population is declining alarmingly.

The Captive History of Blind River Dolphins

The main reason for the decline of blind dolphins from a range of approximately 3,500 km (2,200 miles) of river length to a range of less than 700 km (430 miles) of river length began in the 1930s with the construction of dams and barrages. It fragments the population, degrades habitat and impedes migration. Dolphins are also no longer found in the lower Indus because upstream water extraction depletes downstream channels for several months each year. Hunting for meat, oil and medicines harmed the blind dolphin, making it an endangered species.

The Indus River Dolphin is an extremely rare species. This dolphin was discovered in a tributary of the Indus River near Sukkur, Sindh. The Indus River is rapidly becoming polluted. Blind dolphins struggle to survive as water is diverted into canals and dams. It’s possible that we will only hear about the Indus dolphin and never see it.

If you want to explore Indus River Blind Dolphin, please contact us. We will plan the trip for you and make all necessary arrangements.