A recent study published in the journal ‘Heliyon’ by the Wildlife Institute of India reveals that Gangetic dolphins are being exposed to harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through their diet. Researchers assessed the dietary risk from 39 EDCs present in fish species commonly consumed by these freshwater mammals. The study found significant bioaccumulation of industrial chemicals like di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) in the dolphins’ prey. Additionally, traces of banned pesticides such as DDT and Lindane (γ-HCH) were detected, highlighting weak enforcement of environmental laws in the Ganga basin. The Gangetic dolphin population has dropped by over 50 per cent since 1957, and their habitat range has decreased by nearly 25 per cent, despite their status as India’s national aquatic animal. With only five species of river dolphins remaining worldwide, the study warned that India could risk a repeat of the Yangtze River tragedy, where a similar species went extinct due to unchecked human activities. The study identifies multiple sources of chemical contamination affecting Gangetic dolphins, including agricultural runoff, untreated effluents from the textile …