Stories
Rivers
What are Rivers?
Rivers are natural flowing freshwater bodies that travel from higher elevations to lower ones, usually emptying into oceans, seas, or lakes. They are formed by rain, melting snow, springs, or glaciers, and follow a defined path.
How Many Major Rivers Does India Have?
India is home to more than 400 rivers. They are classified into major Himalayan rivers, which are perennial and glacier-fed, and Peninsular rivers, which are mostly rain-fed and seasonal. The Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra are among the largest Himalayan rivers. Peninsular rivers are rivers that originate in the Peninsular India, mainly from the Western Ghats, central highlands, or other elevated regions. Rivers such as Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery originate in the Western Ghats and flow eastward.
The country also has eight major river systems—Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi—each playing a vital role in shaping India’s geography, ecology, and livelihoods.
What Kind of Biodiversity Do Rivers Support: From Dolphins to Kingfishers
Rivers are lifelines of biodiversity, sustaining a wide range of species—from freshwater dolphins and otters to kingfishers, river terns, crocodiles, and fish. They also support some of India’s most biodiverse habitats. For example, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, located along the Godavari River delta, is one of the largest stretches of mangrove forests in southern India. The Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks in Assam lie along the Brahmaputra and are rich in wetlands and wildlife. Similarly, the Chambal River supports critically endangered species like the gharial and Indian skimmer.
River ecosystems also give rise to floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, and mangrove forests, which are vital for both wildlife and people.
Why our Rivers are in Trouble?
But today, many rivers are in trouble. They are dammed, diverted, polluted, or mined. Sand extraction, untreated sewage, and construction have changed the way rivers flow and function.
These threats harm biodiversity, reduce water availability, and endanger both ecosystems and human livelihoods.
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Film
Gharials of Chambal: Snapshots from the River’s Edge
Film
Boon of the Curse: Unholy Chambal
Film
The First Flight: the Pallas' Fish Eagle
Photo Story
Living Waters: The Resistance and Resilience of the Cauvery
Film
Checkered Keelback: Life in the Water
Film
The Fragile Gori Basin
Film
Saving Bhimanama: Ayushi Jain and a Giant Turtle
Conservation
Ganges Shark: The One True River Shark of India
Species
Here, There, Everywhere: The Muggers of Chambal
Infographic
Ganges River Dolphin: Facts, Population, and Protection Status
Species
Paranoid Plovers: Lapwings from India
Habitat
Wild and Untamed: The National Chambal Sanctuary
Photo Story
Birding Bonanza on the Chambal
Species
Gharial: Champion for the Chambal
Species
Happy Campers: Life Lessons from the Wagtails of India
Photo Story
Indian Skimmer: Fish-Loving River Hunter
Explainer
Riparian Zone: Facts, Threats, Flora and Fauna
Conservation
In Deep Waters: The Conservation Saga of the Ganges River Dolphin
Conservation
Dying River: Declining Water Quality and Fish Stocks on the Cauvery
Conservation
High and Dry: The Cauvery’s Otters Need Their River Back
News
Community Efforts Guide Mahseer Protection in Meghalaya
Conservation
Fishers’ Quandary: Strain and Survival on the Cauvery
Conservation
Gangetic River Dolphin Numbers Decline in Assam
Species
Protecting the Sacred Fish of the Cauvery
Photo Story
Going with the Flow: Tale of the Golden Mahseer
Photo Story
Tiny Tentacles in the Mighty Kaveri
Infographic
Black-necked Stork: Facts, Threats, Habitat
Infographic
Golden Mahseer: Facts, Threats, Habitat
Infographic
Hump-backed Mahseer: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Species
Humpback Mahseer: Big Fish in a Small World
Species
Vanishing Act: The Slow Decline of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle
Conservation
Fishy Quandary: A Nexus of Livelihoods and Native Fish
Photo Story
A River that Carves a World: Brahmaputra’s Journey through Assam
Photo Story
Sharavathi: Lament of a River
Photo Story
Not Just Desert: The Wild, Varied Habitats of Rajasthan
Photo Story
Gutsy Gulls: Trick or Treating on the Water
Hero
Going with the Flow: Exploring India’s River Systems, One Step at a Time
Column
Croc Creche: Why Crocodilian Males Make Great Babysitters
News
Underwater Disturbance: The Gangetic Dolphin Struggles to Communicate
News
Gharials Make a Comeback in Punjab
Wild Vault
Growing With the Flow: The River Pamba and I
Book
The Story Behind the ‘Hardship Allowance’ for Karnataka’s Frontline Forest Staff
Book
The Nitty-gritty of Releasing a Leopard
Conservation
With its Habitat in Danger, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Struggles to Survive
Conservation
How a Colonial Hunter Inspired Conservation Efforts
Conservation
Turning the Tide: The Batagur Baska and the Race Against Extinction
Conservation
Death Knell for the Sharavathi?
Conservation
Alien Fish Proliferate as Extreme Climate Events Rise
Conservation
Gharials Lose Nesting Sites at Katerniaghat
Habitat
The Guide: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Photo Story
Let the River Run: Smooth-coated Otters on the Cauvery
Conservation
190 Dolphins Recorded in Mahananda Face Survival Challenges
Species
Big Herons: Those Grouchy old Fishermen
Conservation
Nest Protectors Hope to Secure the Indian Skimmer’s Future
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