Feature Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
By Sarah Sharkey
A combination of climate change and habitat degradation is pushing yet another species to the brink of extinction. The Gangetic river dolphin is struggling to survive as pressure from an increasing number of sources continues to rise, with no sign of relief in sight.
The population of already critically endangered dolphins has experienced population decline over the last several years and it is only getting worse.
Experts are attributing this continued decline to a decreasing water level and accompanying decreasing water flow. The lack of ample water in a river system is a very obvious problem, but a difficult one to fix. A change in the water quality and quantity does not just affect the dolphins, but it also affects their food source. A declining food base leads to even more problems.
Scientists warn that this will not be the only river system severely affected by climate change. Everyone should be taking great care of their rivers because they are extremely important to human and animal life.
The changing environment coupled human pollution has created a recipe for extinction in Gangetic river dolphins. Although it is not too late to save these amazing creatures, it will take some intense cleaning and dedication to improve the ecosystem of the river if they are to be saved.
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