Endangered blind dolphins: Survey reveals rise in numbers

The population of endangered blind Indus dolphins has increased by 108 in the last five years.

KARACHI:

A survey revealed that the population of the endangered blind Indus dolphins has increased by 108 in the last five years.

The statistics were revealed in a survey conducted by a 12-member team of the Sindh Wildlife Department.

The team took six days to collect information from areas extending from Guddu Barrage to the Sukkur Barrage.

In 2006, the number of the rare dolphins was reported to be 810 while this year the number has gone up to 918.

Howeve,r Wildlife conservator Taj Sheikh said the growth rate of the dolphin population reduced due last year's heavy flooding.

In an earlier report, blind Indus dolphin field officer Mir Akhtar Talpur said that there are 810 Indus blind dolphins in the river from Guddu Barrage to Sukkur Barrage. The number used to be bigger, but as some people, especially fishermen, killed these dolphins for meat and oil, the number of the smartest mammal was shrinking – and would have reached the brink of extinction.