Daily Times

In an era of declining wildlife population worldwide, the saga of Indus River Dolphin conservation reveals a magnanimous story of community-based upkeep of an endangered species.

With WWF’s revelations in its 2024 Living Planet Report about 73% decline in wildlife populations worldwide, the survival story of Indus Dolphin stands out as an example of community-based conservation and a beacon of hope for this endangered species.

This remarkable progress showcases the power of community-based conservation, an approach that not only bolstered dolphin numbers but also engaged and empowered local communities. Indus Dolphin, a unique and endangered freshwater species, is thriving today largely due to these collective efforts, led by WWF and the Sindh Wildlife Department.

Locally known as ‘Bhulan,’ Indus Dolphin is one of four freshwater dolphin species surviving globally. Found solely in Pakistan’s Indus River system, this endangered species had faced significant challenges over decades like water pollution, dams’ construction and frequent use of fishing nets.

But numbers of a survey conducted in 2023 are encouraging, estimating over 2000 dolphins in Indus River with nearly twofold increase from 2001 when this figure was perilously low to 1200 dolphins.

Dr. Uzma, a biodiversity expert at WWF-Pakistan, explains that biodiversity includes important living component of our environment like trees, fish, mammals and much more, forming interconnected ecosystems.

“These ecosystems offer critical services like water purification, soil fertility, food security and habitat provision. As people, wildlife and environment are interconnected we must adopt a holistic approach for their conservation,” Uzma said.

“The Indus Dolphin’s survival is a success story in a world where biodiversity is increasingly threatened,” she said referring to havoc wreaked by climate change across the globe, with shifting weather patterns, rising temperatures and more intense natural disasters.

Tragic death of over 300 dolphins in Amazon River last year due to severe drought and isolated water systems illustrates the immediate threats facing aquatic life. Temperature rising to 39°C in some parts of Amazon, proved lethal for freshwater dolphins that could not escape extreme heat.

Pakistan’s fragile ecosystem also faces climate challenges with the country witnessing two devastating floods in 2010 and 2022 that displaced communities, destroyed infrastructure and severely impacted wildlife. During these crises, increased fishing with people seeking alternative livelihoods leading to damaging practices like electrofishing and chemical use, further threatened species like Indus Dolphin. As the pressures on natural resources grow, community-based conservation approaches offer a promising way to mitigate human impact on biodiversity.

The success story of the Indus Dolphin is built on a model that involves local communities as active participants in conservation. WWF-Pakistan and the Sindh Wildlife Department have spearheaded efforts to train and engage local residents, empowering them to report illegal fishing, monitor dolphin habitats and intervene in emergencies when dolphins become entangled in fishing nets.

This “inclusive conservation” model recognizes that communities are eyes and ears on ground and instrumental in long-term conservation and protected areas managed by local communities have emerged as a powerful model for sustainable biodiversity efforts.

In Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, community-managed protected areas have also led to remarkable recoveries in populations of ibex and markhor, demonstrating praiseworthy conservation with community’s involvement. By recognizing the revenue potential of trophy hunting licenses, local communities have also found economic incentives in preserving these species.

“Involving communities in conservation is now a globally recognized best practice,” Dr Uzma remarked as she mentioned to recent Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) urging to protect 30% of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030 – a commitment known as “30 by 30.”

“Under this framework, community-managed protected areas are essential to achieving these ambitious goals, helping countries restore, protect and maintain biodiversity,” Uzma noted.

Despite achievements, challenges still remain there as conservation, particularly for an impacted species like Indus Dolphin, is not a quick fix. The slow reproductive rate of dolphins, with mothers birthing only once every two years, means that population recovery is gradual. On top of this is water scarcity in Indus River, driven by excessive irrigation and other demands.

As effects of climate change are also challenging for people and wildlife with winters in Pakistan become milder, the pastures once inaccessible in the cold are now grazed by livestock year-round, leading to conflicts between herders and wildlife. These human-wildlife conflicts often result in the killing of wildlife, disrupting delicate ecosystems.