The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, and it is frequently found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the subcontinent. According to Animal Info, the blue whale has been endangered since the 1960s due to commercial whaling. Whaling for blue whales stopped in 1964, but the population numbers have not recovered. Before whaling, there were around 250,000 blue whales in the Southern hemisphere. By 1998, the number was 400. The blue whale is a krill eater and will leave its home waters for cooler climates by the poles during the summer to feed. After the feeding season, the blue whales return to their regular habitat and do not eat for the other eight months of the year. They are solitary animals, which can make counting their population difficult; however, the number of sightings per year is increasing slowly.
The Ganges River Dolphin is one of the four species of freshwater dolphin in the world, and it is highly endangered. According to the Deccan Herald, the population of the Ganges River Dolphin is down to 2,000. The animal now faces extinction. The Ganges River Dolphin's population has rapidly decreased due to hunting and the destruction of its habitat by manmade dams. The pollution of the Ganges also contributes to the decrease in population. The Wildlife Institute of India is trying to get the dolphin classified as an indicator species, or a species whose well-being is indicative of the effects of projects to clean the Ganges River. There are also efforts to make portions of the river wildlife sanctuaries for tourists. The Ganges River Dolphin is also blind.
The Indus River Dolphin is the only other freshwater dolphin in India. The population used to be widespread throughout the length of the river in India, Pakistan and the Himalayas, but now there are three isolated populations in India itself. The main reason for population decline is manmade dams of the Indus River, which cause large scale drying of the river beds. Unlike the Ganges River Dolphin, the Indus is not actually blind. Though the eyes have no lens, the dolphin can see light. The Indus River Dolphin has been endangered since the 1970s, and the population continues to fall. According to Animal Info, it is one of the rarest mammals on the planet, with a population of around 800 as of 2001. Pollution and hunting have also contributed to its decline.
