RAS question
The Indus River Dolphin in India is found in:
Correct answer: (D) Beas River in Punjab.
In India, the Indus river dolphin is found only in a small pocket of the Beas River in Punjab.
Explanation
The Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor) has an extremely narrow distribution in India. It occurs only in a small pocket of the Beas River in Punjab, while most of its population is in Pakistan. The 2021-22 field guide records only 6-8 individuals in India. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and has also been declared Punjab's state aquatic animal. The key point is that, in India, the Indus river dolphin occurs in the Beas River in Punjab. Its limited habitat is also under pressure, making the species important from a conservation perspective.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Ganges river dolphin occurs in the Brahmaputra; the Indus river dolphin is not found in this river in India.
- (B) The Ganges river dolphin occurs in the Ganga River; the Indus river dolphin is not found in this river in India.
- (C) The Godavari is not a habitat of the Indus river dolphin; in India, this species occurs in the Beas River.
Concept
Under Environment and Ecology, this question tests where a threatened species occurs and which river system it is linked to. Such facts recur in RAS because they bring together species conservation, the geography of the relevant state and conservation priorities.