India’s Wild Waters: Exploring Freshwater Life

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India is home to an extraordinary network of freshwater ecosystems, from iconic rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Kaveri to expansive wetlands and high-altitude lakes. Countless streams further weave through forests and farmlands, sustaining rich biodiversity and livelihoods across the country.

Though India holds only 4% of the world’s freshwater, it supports an astonishing variety of life, from otters to migratory birds! This World Water Day, let’s shine a spotlight on the incredible world that lives in India’s freshwater.

Life in India’s Rivers

Picture yourself standing on the banks of the River Ganga at dawn. The river is wide and still, and everything is quiet in the early light. In the distance, something surfaces…a long dark shape that rolls slowly and disappears! You may have just seen India’s national aquatic animal: the Gangetic river dolphin (Platanista gangetica).

While dolphins are most commonly associated with the ocean, the Gangetic river dolphin is one of the few freshwater dolphin species in the world. Most remarkably, they are essentially blind. Their eyes cannot form images at all. Instead, they navigate river waters using echolocation, emitting sounds that bounce off objects and return as echoes, much like a natural sonar system. Once common across the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, the Gangetic river dolphin is now listed as endangered. Find out more in this fun comic!

Another remarkable resident of India’s rivers is the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). They belong to the same group as crocodiles and alligators, but what sets them apart is their long, narrow snout, perfectly adapted for catching fish. Males develop a distinctive bulbous growth at the tip of their snout, called a ghara, named after the Indian pot it resembles.

Threats such as habitat loss, sand mining, and entanglement in fishing nets have pushed them to the brink, and today they are critically endangered. They are found in only a handful of rivers, including the Chambal and the Ganga.

Have You Heard About the Wonderful World of Wetlands?

While rivers are a major source of freshwater, they are not the only ones. Much of India’s freshwater is found in wetlands, where land and water meet. These ecosystems take many forms, including marshes, swamps, and waterlogged forests, and are spread across the country, from the floodplains of the Brahmaputra in Assam to the backwaters of Kerala.

One extraordinary example is the Myristica swamp in the Western Ghats, a rare and ancient type of freshwater swamp. It is named after the Myristica tree, the same tree that gives us nutmeg, a spice commonly used in kitchens across India. These trees have a fascinating adaptation. Their roots grow upward out of the waterlogged soil, allowing them to breathe.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, supporting an extraordinary variety of birds, fish, mammals, and insects. They are also home to some of India’s most fascinating mammals.

The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), a small wild cat found across India’s wetlands, is a remarkably capable swimmer. Unlike most cats, these cats do not avoid water. In fact, they dive in headfirst to catch fish! Another fascinating animal is the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), found across the wetlands and rivers of India. These otters live and hunt in noisy, playful family groups.

Both of these animals are indicators of healthy wetlands and where they thrive, the water is clean and the ecosystem is full of life. Read more about wetlands in this cool resource!

Let’s Dive into The Unique World of Lakes

Lakes are another vital part of India’s freshwater story. Unlike rivers, lakes are still, standing bodies of water. India’s lakes range from the high-altitude glacial lakes of the Himalayas to the vast shallow lakes of the plains. They are home to fish like the mahseer, waterbirds like painted storks and kingfishers, and many endemic species. Loktak Lake in Manipur is home to one such endemic species. The lake is covered in phumdis, floating masses of vegetation that drift across its surface, and living on these phumdis is the endangered sangai deer…found nowhere else in the world!

Now, let’s move northward. India’s high-altitude lakes tell a different story. Tsomgo Lake in Sikkim, sitting at over 3,700 metres above sea level, freezes over in winter.

A System Under Threat…

India’s freshwater systems, its rivers, wetlands, and lakes are home to thousands of species of plants and animals. Over 800 species of freshwater fish, hundreds of species of waterbirds, aquatic plants, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates all depend on these systems to survive. Yet, freshwater biodiversity is among the most threatened on the planet.

Pollution from cities, industries, and farms has degraded the water quality of many of India’s rivers and lakes. The construction of dams has altered the flow of rivers, blocking the movement of fish and disrupting the ecosystems that many species depend on. Wetlands have been drained and filled for agriculture and development. Overfishing and the use of fishing nets has depleted fish populations and harmed species like the gharial and the Gangetic river dolphin.The result is that many of India’s freshwater species are in decline and that the health of India’s freshwater system is in decline.

But there is always hope. Protecting India’s freshwater systems starts with small actions. Using water wisely, keeping water bodies free of litter, and speaking up for the protection of local rivers, wetlands, and lakes.

Start by paying attention to the water bodies around you. Every pond, stream, and lake has a story. Find the nearest one to your home or school, spend some time there, and note down everything you see – birds, fish, insects, plants. You will be surprised by what you find. India’s freshwater world is extraordinary. And it needs us to be its voice.

Want to learn more? Watch this cool video to understand how we can save our freshwater!

Activity

You have just explored India’s incredible freshwater world. Do you think you know it well enough? Fill in the blanks to find out!

Use what you have learned to fill in the blanks!

Questions

The Gangetic river dolphin navigates the river by using __________, a natural sonar system.
The gharial belongs to the same group as __________ and __________.
Loktak Lake in Manipur is covered in __________, floating masses of vegetation.
The endangered __________ deer is found only in Loktak Lake.
Chilika and Vembanad are both __________ water bodies, a mix of freshwater and saltwater.