Pakistan has officially created the Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary in June 2026, safeguarding nearly 200 kilometers of the Indus River in Punjab. This new zone connects with an existing protected area in Sindh province, creating a contiguous 400-km stretch of legally protected habitat.
The Indus River dolphin, listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, has seen its historical range reduced by approximately 80% due to dams, canals, and irrigation barrages. The population plummeted to 617 individuals by 2001 before rebounding to around 2,000 over the following decade.
Source: Mongabay