The sanctuary aims to conserve the largest population of endangered Indus River dolphins in Punjab
The Punjab government has declared a stretch of the Indus River with the highest concentration of the endangered Indus River Dolphin in the province as “Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary”, marking a significant step towards the conservation of these rare freshwater species and their habitat.
The move has been welcomed by conservationists and the World Wildlife Fund Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan), which described the notification as an important milestone for dolphin conservation and protection of the Indus River ecosystem.
According to an official notification, the stretch of the river from Jambar-Bait Landi Patafi to Guddu Barrage has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary under the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020. The initiative aims to protect the natural habitat of Indus river dolphins 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.
Southern Punjab Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger 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 was home to the highest recorded population of the species in the province.
He said the section of the river provided suitable conditions for dolphin feeding, reproduction 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 River dolphin, but also strengthen the protection of the entire aquatic ecosystem of the Indus River, including native fish species and other aquatic life forms,” 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, underscoring the importance of protecting their remaining habitat.
Environmental experts say changes in river flows, pollution, illegal hunting and increased human activities have intensified threats to dolphin habitat. However, they believe that the establishment of the new wildlife sanctuary will strengthen ongoing conservation efforts and contribute to the long-term survival of the species.
