Abstract Populations of endangered Ganges and Indus river dolphins have been under severe threat from diversion of river water by dams, barrages, and canal networks across the Indus and Ganges–Brahmaputra river basins. River dolphins prefer deep water and might enter irrigation canals in the dry-season, getting stranded there. Stranding can cause mortality and local population declines, and poses an emerging challenge to river dolphin conservation efforts. In Pakistan’s Indus river basin, stranding rates of Indus dolphins in irrigation canals are high, and well-coordinated rescue-release operations are undertaken. Despite commendable river dolphin rescue efforts in some parts of India, stranding cases are not always reported. From open-access media reports (2007–08 to 2017–18), I found 26 stranding cases of Ganges river dolphins from the Ghaghara–Sharada canal network across seven districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Of these, 62% reports were from 2015 to 2016. Most cases occurred in secondary and tertiary canal branches. Interviews with fishers, farmers, and government officials revealed low awareness of stranding cases. Stranded dolphins might have no chance of returning to their source habitat, unless rescued. From my results, I discuss how current barrage-canal operations could influence dolphin stranding risk, and their implications for flow management in the Ghaghara–Sharada river basin.

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印度恒河流域 Ghaghara-Sharada 灌溉渠中濒临灭绝的恒河海豚搁浅案例：保护意义

摘要 濒临灭绝的恒河和印度河海豚种群受到横跨印度河和恒河-雅鲁藏布江流域的水坝、拦河坝和运河网络分流河水的严重威胁。河豚喜欢深水，可能在旱季进入灌溉渠，滞留在那里。搁浅会导致死亡和当地人口减少，并对河豚保护工作构成新的挑战。在巴基斯坦的印度河流域，印度河豚在灌溉渠中的搁浅率很高，并且开展了协调良好的救援放生行动。尽管印度某些地区的河豚救援工作值得称道，但搁浅事件并不总是有报道。从开放获取媒体报道（2007-08 到 2017-18），我在印度北方邦七个地区的 Ghaghara-Sharada 运河网络中发现了 26 例恒河海豚搁浅案例。其中，62% 的报告发生在 2015 年至 2016 年。大多数病例发生在二级和三级运河分支。对渔民、农民和政府官员的采访显示，对搁浅案例的认识不足。除非获救，搁浅的海豚可能没有机会返回它们的栖息地。根据我的研究结果，我讨论了当前的拦河坝运营如何影响海豚搁浅风险，以及它们对 Ghaghara-Sharada 河流域流量管理的影响。政府官员透露，对搁浅案件的认识不足。除非获救，搁浅的海豚可能没有机会返回它们的栖息地。根据我的研究结果，我讨论了当前的拦河坝运营如何影响海豚搁浅风险，以及它们对 Ghaghara-Sharada 河流域流量管理的影响。政府官员透露，对搁浅案件的认识不足。除非获救，搁浅的海豚可能没有机会返回它们的栖息地。根据我的研究结果，我讨论了当前的拦河坝运营如何影响海豚搁浅风险，以及它们对 Ghaghara-Sharada 河流域流量管理的影响。