The sanctuary aims to conserve Punjab’s largest population of endangered Indus dolphins
The Punjab government has declared a stretch of the Indus River home to the highest concentration of endangered Indus River dolphins in the province as the ‘Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary’, marking a significant step towards conservation of these rare freshwater species and their habitat.
The move was welcomed by conservationists and the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan), who described the notification as a major step for dolphin conservation and protection of the Indus River ecosystem.
According to an official notification, the river stretch from Jambar-Bait Landi Patafi to Guddu Dam has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary under the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020. The initiative aims to protect the natural habitat of the Indus dolphin and other aquatic and wildlife species while promoting biodiversity conservation.
WWF-Pakistan said the declaration would strengthen Pakistan’s network of protected areas and reflect the country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. The organization also acknowledged the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Aurangzeb in facilitating the initiative.
Additional Chief of South Punjab Wildlife Warden Sheikh Muhammad Zahid said the Punjnad-Guddu stretch of the Indus River was considered the most important habitat for the Indus River dolphin in Punjab and harbored the highest recorded population of the species in the province.
He said the river section provided suitable conditions for dolphin feeding, breeding and movement, making legal protection of the area a conservation priority.
“The new wildlife sanctuary will not only help safeguard the natural habitat of the Indus dolphin, but also strengthen the protection of the entire Indus aquatic ecosystem, including native fish species and other aquatic life,” he said.
According to WWF-Pakistan, the Indus River remains the last major natural habitat of the endangered Indus River dolphin, one of the rarest freshwater dolphin species in the world. Conservation experts estimate that around 2,000 dolphins currently survive in the wild, highlighting the importance of protecting their remaining habitat.
Environmental experts say changes in river flow, pollution, illegal hunting and increased human activities have intensified threats to the dolphin’s habitat. However, they believe the creation of the new wildlife reserve will strengthen ongoing conservation efforts and contribute to the long-term survival of the species.
