A 12-month study found that at least 20 endangered Ganges river dolphins are surviving in Bangladesh’s Buriganga River, a waterway heavily polluted by industrial effluent and municipal sewage. The river, bordering Dhaka, is considered one of the world’s most contaminated urban waterways.
Researchers observed dolphins in 10 of 12 survey months between September 2023 and August 2024. Group sizes averaged four individuals, with calves representing nearly 16% of sightings, indicating successful reproduction. Despite severe ecological degradation and the absence of native fish, the dolphins appear to be adapting, possibly by feeding on invasive suckermouth catfish.
Source: Mongabay