Pakistan expands protected habitat for Indus River dolphin as recovery offers hope

Pakistan established the Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary in June 2026, protecting nearly 200 kilometers of river in Punjab and connecting with an existing reserve in Sindh to create a continuous 400-kilometer protected corridor. A 2025 abundance study documented the endangered Indus River dolphin population rebounding to an estimated 1,987 individuals, a 19.4% increase between 2011 and 2017.

Nearly 99% of the surviving population remains concentrated in a 690-km stretch and faces ongoing threats from gillnet entanglement and habitat fragmentation.