For centuries, the Indus river dolphin has silently navigated the waters of Pakistan’s mighty Indus, relying not on sight but on sound to survive. Once found across much of the Indus river system, today this extraordinary creature is confined to a fraction of its former range, its future tied to the health of a river under ever-growing pressure. Yet against the odds, its story has also become one of resilience. Few people have played a greater role in that journey than Dr. Uzma Khan, one of Pakistan’s leading wildlife conservationists, whose work has helped bring the endangered species back from the brink while transforming how river dolphin conservation is approached across Asia.
Dr. Khan joined WWF-Pakistan in 1998 as an Education Officer, beginning her career at Lahore Zoo before following her passion into the field. Nearly three decades later, she has become one of the country’s foremost voices on biodiversity, leading pioneering research on endangered wildlife, helping shape conservation policy, and working with communities to protect Pakistan’s natural heritage. Today, as Asia Lead for the Global River Dolphin Initiative, she continues to champion one of the world’s rarest freshwater mammals with the same curiosity, compassion and determination that first drew her to conservation. In the conversation that follows, she reflects on the changing fate of Pakistan’s rivers, the emotional realities of life in the field, and why protecting a species ultimately means protecting the ecosystems (and communities) that depend on it…
Dr. Uzma, what is the current reality of Pakistan’s rivers, and what condition are they in for wildlife, particularly river dolphins?
It surprises most people to learn that the Indus River dolphin was once found not only in the Indus but also in the Ravi and several other rivers. Today, however, it is largely restricted to the Indus River. Our rivers have changed dramatically. They have been fragmented and altered by water infrastructure, including barrages, dams and extensive canal systems that divert water for agriculture.
The Indus is often described as Pakistan’s lifeline, and rightly so. It sustains our people, our businesses and our agriculture. Yet the river itself is under immense pressure, with deteriorating water quality and increasing demands placed upon it. While so much depends on the Indus, far too little is being done to maintain the health of the river as a living ecosystem.
Why are Indus River dolphins so special, and what makes them unique to Pakistan?
The Indus River dolphin is an incredibly resilient species. It has survived for more than half a million years, adapting to changing river conditions and countless environmental challenges. To me, Bhulan is a symbol of resilience. It has become my role model, an enduring example of strength. Yet despite everything it has overcome, I believe we have pushed this remarkable species to its limits.
Bhulan relies entirely on echolocation to navigate, communicate and find food. Although it is blind, that is not a disadvantage in the murky waters of the Indus, where vision is of little use. It is also an endangered species, with only around 2,000 dolphins remaining. The Indus River dolphin is now found only in Pakistan’s Indus River, with just three dolphins surviving in India’s Beas River. It is endemic to the Indus River system and is so iconic that the Sindh Wildlife Act rightly recognises it as the ‘Queen of the Indus.’
What are the biggest threats facing river dolphins in the Indus today?
The greatest threat is habitat loss. Today, the Indus River dolphin’s range is approximately 80 per cent smaller than it was a century ago, and it continues to shrink, albeit gradually. Around 99 per cent of the population is now confined to just 700 kilometres of river habitat. Such a restricted range makes the species increasingly vulnerable, particularly to entanglement in fishing gear.
Have there been moments in the field that were heartbreaking to witness?
Many. Sometimes you have to convince people that the kindest course of action is to euthanise a suffering wild animal rather than condemn it to a lifetime in captivity with severe deformities caused by conflict with humans. Those are incredibly difficult decisions to make.
During my PhD research on the common leopard, I received a report of a leopard that had been shot with pellets, fallen and severely damaged its backbone. I have also met families who lost children in leopard attacks. Experiences like these are emotionally devastating, but we have to be there, to help, support and respond with compassion in every situation.
I also performed the post-mortem of a dolphin we had hoped to translocate. Sadly, it died almost immediately after capture due to capture myopathy, a condition that can occur when wild animals experience extreme stress during handling. There are always risks involved. But if stranded dolphins are left in irrigation canals, they will die there too. Conservation is far more difficult than it appears. It is grounded in science, but it is equally driven by emotion, compassion and hope.
What has been one of the most hopeful recovery stories you’ve seen in Pakistan’s river systems?
The recovery of the Indus River dolphin is one of Pakistan’s greatest conservation success stories. It demonstrates not only the resilience of the species itself, but also what sustained conservation efforts can achieve. It is a story of partnership, cooperation and community ownership. Governments, researchers, NGOs and local communities have worked together towards a shared goal, creating a model that has gained international recognition.
When I first joined the project in 2001, there were around 1,200 dolphins. Today, there are approximately 2,000. That represents an extraordinary recovery and gives us genuine reason for hope.
What does coexistence between communities and endangered river wildlife actually look like in Pakistan?
One of the best examples is the introduction of pingers. Human needs and wildlife needs inevitably come into conflict, and our role is to find solutions that allow both to coexist. That is challenging, but conservation continues to evolve through innovation. Pingers are acoustic deterrent devices attached to fishing nets. They emit sounds that dolphins can hear but find unpleasant, encouraging them to move away from the nets before becoming entangled.
It’s important to remember that dolphins are mammals, just like us. They breathe through their lungs and must regularly surface for air. If they become trapped in fishing nets and cannot reach the surface, they drown.
We’ve already seen encouraging results. Dolphins are avoiding fishing nets, while fishers have reported improved catches. There is tremendous potential to expand the use of pingers, creating greater harmony between local communities and Bhulan.
What is the hardest part of trying to protect a species that depends on a river under so much human pressure?
Freshwater is almost always viewed as a resource and a basic human necessity, and rightly so. We all depend on it. But the last thing people think of freshwater as is a habitat. When most people talk about rivers, they think of agriculture, drinking water and economic development, not the countless species that rely on those rivers to survive.
Human needs understandably take priority, but achieving a balance between development and conservation remains one of our greatest challenges. At WWF, we are working on sustainable agriculture, reducing water footprints through improved market chains, and collaborating with governments and partners on both policy and field-based conservation initiatives. At the same time, we need to start recognising freshwater as a living habitat, restore wetlands through nature-based solutions, and integrate freshwater conservation into policies across every sector.
Dr. Uzma, what was your first close encounter with an Indus River dolphin like?
I like to call it Bhulan, our local name for the Indus River dolphin. My first encounter was in 1999, when I joined a team in Sukkur to rescue a dolphin stranded in an irrigation canal. My role was to record its surfacing intervals, and I noticed that as disturbance around the animal increased, it spent progressively longer underwater before surfacing again. It was incredibly aware of everything happening around it.
Over the years, I had many close interactions with Bhulan, but one in particular has stayed with me. We were transporting a dolphin in an open vehicle along a noisy, bumpy road when it began showing signs of stress, twisting and curving its body. Instinctively, I started gently rubbing its side, much as you would comfort another living being. Gradually, it relaxed. That moment touched me deeply. Animals respond to kindness. Even today, whenever I think about that experience, I become emotional, it is something I will never forget.
Are there moments where you’ve felt the river itself is trying to tell you something?
Absolutely. Rivers are alive. When you travel along the Indus, you begin to feel that it has moods, a character and a personality all its own. It is one of the most dynamic rivers in the world. Sitting beside it and simply watching it flow is an incredibly calming experience. It feels almost as though the river is breathing. It constantly shifts, carrying sediment towards its banks and reshaping itself.
I remember, during my early visits to the Indus, seeing large wooden boats near Rohri that could no longer sail because the river had become too shallow. Those boats told a quiet but heartbreaking story. Eventually, they disappeared altogether, taking a piece of the river’s history with them. The Indus has so much to teach us…if we are willing to listen.
How have changes in Pakistan’s rivers over the last decade affected wildlife the most?
There is far more traffic on our rivers today, with increasing numbers of small boats powered by locally made engines. The Indus is under growing economic pressure as people try to do more, and do it faster. Now imagine an animal whose entire world depends on echolocation. Research on closely related dolphin species shows that excessive underwater noise can interfere with their sonar, causing stress and disorientation.
At the same time, rivers are becoming increasingly fragmented, not only by physical barriers but also by stretches where there is little or no water. These invisible barriers restrict movement and isolate wildlife populations.
What is one myth or misconception people in Pakistan have about river dolphins?
Many people who see an Indus River dolphin for the first time assume it is dangerous because its teeth are visible along its long beak, or rostrum. In reality, those are holding teeth rather than chewing teeth. They are used to grip prey, not to attack people. Bhulan is a remarkably gentle and sensitive animal. Another common misconception is that being blind is a disadvantage. In fact, the Indus River dolphin has an extraordinarily sophisticated echolocation system that allows it to navigate, avoid obstacles and even locate tiny freshwater shrimps in the murky waters of the river. Its blindness has never prevented it from thriving in its natural habitat.
How do you emotionally cope with witnessing loss in the field while continuing this work?
It is always heartbreaking to see an animal lose its life because of human actions. I have witnessed it many times. When those moments happen, I remind myself to think beyond the loss of an individual animal and focus instead on the conservation of the species as a whole. That perspective keeps me going. The recovery of the Indus River dolphin population reminds me that our efforts do make a difference. Nature is the greatest teacher. Every experience, even the painful ones, helps us improve conservation practices. Human needs and wildlife will continue to come into conflict, but our responsibility is to develop solutions that allow both to coexist.
Header image: WWF-Pakistan