Freshwater Dolphin Day
October 24
About Freshwater Dolphin Day
Freshwater Dolphin Day takes place each year on 24 October to raise awareness of the world’s river dolphins, a small group of highly threatened mammals living in the rivers and lakes of South America and Asia. Established through the work of the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group and WWF, the day draws attention to species that receive far less public attention than their ocean-dwelling relatives, despite every one of them being classed as endangered or critically endangered.
What is Freshwater Dolphin Day?
Freshwater Dolphin Day, also known as International Freshwater Dolphin Day or World River Dolphin Day, is an annual conservation observance dedicated to the planet’s river-dwelling dolphins. It focuses on species such as the Amazon river dolphin (or boto), the Ganges and Indus river dolphins of South Asia, the tucuxi of South America, and the Irrawaddy dolphin of Southeast Asia. The day is championed by conservation bodies including WWF, the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group, the World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Protection. Its purpose is to highlight the threats these animals face and to rally support for the rivers and freshwater habitats they depend on.
When is Freshwater Dolphin Day?
Freshwater Dolphin Day falls on Saturday, 24 October 2026. It is a fixed-date observance, marked on 24 October every year, so the date does not change from one year to the next. Conservation organisations time campaigns, fundraising appeals and educational activities around this date.
Why Freshwater Dolphin Day Matters
River dolphins are among the most endangered mammals on Earth, and their decline is a warning sign about the health of the world’s great rivers. The Ganges river dolphin has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996, while populations of several species have fallen sharply within living memory. India’s first comprehensive river dolphin survey, published in 2025, estimated 6,327 dolphins across eight states, with the largest numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The baiji, or Chinese river dolphin, was declared functionally extinct in the 2000s, a stark reminder of what is at stake. Because river dolphins sit near the top of the freshwater food chain, their survival reflects the wider condition of rivers that hundreds of millions of people also rely on for water, food and livelihoods.
How to Get Involved in Freshwater Dolphin Day
There are many ways to mark the day, whether you live near a river or simply want to support conservation from afar:
- Learn about the species – Read about the boto, the Ganges and Indus dolphins, the tucuxi and the Irrawaddy dolphin so you can share accurate information with others.
- Support a conservation charity – Donate to or fundraise for organisations such as WWF, the World Cetacean Alliance or local river dolphin projects working on the ground.
- Reduce plastic and chemical waste – River pollution is a major threat, so cutting single-use plastics and avoiding harmful chemicals helps protect freshwater habitats.
- Raise awareness online – Share facts, photographs and campaign links on social media to introduce more people to these little-known animals.
- Choose sustainable seafood – Bycatch in fishing gear is a leading cause of river dolphin deaths, so supporting responsible fisheries makes a difference.
- Visit a museum or aquarium talk – Many institutions run educational sessions on freshwater ecosystems and the wildlife that depends on them.
- Support clean rivers locally – Join a river clean-up or catchment group, as healthy rivers everywhere are connected to the global picture for freshwater life.
- Teach children about rivers – Schools and families can use the day to explore why rivers and the creatures within them deserve protection.
History of Freshwater Dolphin Day
Freshwater Dolphin Day has its origins in international conservation efforts during the late 2000s. The date of 24 October was designated following a workshop on establishing protected areas for freshwater cetaceans, held in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, in October 2009. The initiative was driven by the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group together with WWF, two bodies at the forefront of efforts to study and protect river dolphins.
The choice to create a dedicated day reflected growing alarm about the fate of freshwater cetaceans. The functional extinction of the baiji in China, confirmed after surveys in the mid-2000s, was the first loss of a dolphin species in modern times and a turning point that galvanised conservationists. It underlined how quickly a river dolphin population could collapse under the combined pressures of dams, pollution, fishing and shipping.
Since then, the day has been embraced by a widening circle of organisations and has helped support international agreements to protect river dolphins across South America and Asia. WWF-led declarations have brought together governments from countries that are home to these species, committing to coordinated conservation action and reinforcing the message that river dolphins are a shared global responsibility.
Noteworthy Facts About Freshwater Dolphin Day
- The day was designated at a 2009 IUCN and WWF workshop in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- Every recognised river dolphin species is classified as endangered or critically endangered.
- The Amazon river dolphin, or boto, is famous for its pink colouration, which can become more pronounced in adult males.
- The Ganges river dolphin is effectively blind and navigates using echolocation in murky river waters.
- The baiji of China’s Yangtze River was declared functionally extinct in the 2000s, the first dolphin species lost in modern times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Freshwater Dolphin Day?
It is an annual conservation observance held on 24 October to raise awareness of the world’s endangered river dolphins and the freshwater habitats they depend on. It is backed by organisations including WWF and the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group.
When is Freshwater Dolphin Day in 2026?
Freshwater Dolphin Day is on Saturday, 24 October 2026. It is marked on the same date every year.
Which animals are river dolphins?
River dolphins include the Amazon river dolphin (boto), the tucuxi, the Ganges and Indus river dolphins, and the Irrawaddy dolphin. They live in the rivers, lakes and estuaries of South America and Asia rather than the open ocean.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Freshwater Dolphin Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #FreshwaterDolphinDay and #FreshwaterDolphinDay2026 on social media. The more people who know about these remarkable river animals, the bigger the impact for their conservation.
Related Awareness Days
- World Whale Day – Celebrates whales and the wider campaign to protect marine and aquatic mammals worldwide.
- World Orca Day – Focuses on orcas and the threats facing some of the ocean’s most charismatic predators.
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought – Highlights the importance of protecting water resources and the ecosystems that depend on them.
Links
- Read more about Freshwater Dolphin Day at World Animal Protection
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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