Conservation Planning for Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in Smaller rivers of the Ganga River Basin, India

The complex and dynamic networks of river system, vital for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, are under pressure due to human-induced water stress disrupting ecological processes. Recognition of the importance of rivers as source of life though has led to efforts towards protecting large rivers, nevertheless the conservation and management of smaller rivers remained mostly neglected, creating significant gaps in ecological restoration initiatives. In the present study, we assess the distribution and population status of Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in the small rivers in the Ganga River Basin for integrating it into the basin wide river conservation strategy. We observed that the Gangetic dolphin inhabited most tributaries and sub-tributaries of the Ganga River, with a naïve occupancy rate of Ψ̂ = 0.68 ± 0.04 (mean ± SE) having 606 ± 142.77 (mean ± SE) individuals and accounts for 15% of the total Gangetic dolphin population in the Basin. The results of N-mixture and MaxEnt models demonstrate that channel depth, presence of meanders and water discharge were key predictors of distribution in these rivers, and the proximity to confluences were identified as a critical predictor. About 54% (620km) of 1150km of the surveyed river stretches exhibited suitability for dolphins in the Basin, indicated by a probability distribution score of ≥0.50. Combining this data with the available information, we delineated a total of 2850km stretch covering entire Ganga River System suitable for Gangetic dolphins within the Basin. Notably, the 620km of suitable stretches identified in smaller rivers represent 22% of the overall suitable stretches across the entire basin. These stretches were translated to conservation priority stretches for systematic conservation planning involving various stakeholders for improved river conservation in the Basin.