Shibsha Dolphin Sanctuary

Shibsha Dolphin Sanctuary, tucked into the tangle of the Shibsha River on the fringe of the Sundarbans, is less a polished wildlife park and more a muddy, tidal corridor where the Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphins linger between mangrove roots and the occasional trailing fishing boat. The sanctuary only received legal protection on 4 March 2020, so infrastructure is limited: there are no lodges on the riverbank, the only decent night‑stop is a modest guesthouse in Khulna town (rooms with a fan and a view of the Mallik Jetty, not the dolphins). The real action starts at dawn, when you board a wooden launch from the Khulna jetty at 05:30 am and drift downstream; the best sightings are in the early hour when the water is calm and the dolphins surface to sniff the air before the river swells with the tide. Bring a good pair of waterproof binoculars and a dry‑bag for your camera – the spray from the mangrove branches can ruin cheap gear. Expect a few hours of patient watching, interspersed with the sound of brackish water and the occasional water‑monitor lizard. Skip the “guided tours” that promise dolphin‑show antics; they’re more about pushing a boat for a fee than protecting the species. The best time to visit is November to February when the water is cooler and the monsoon birds are quieter, and avoid the monsoon months (June‑September) when the river swells and visibility drops to near zero. Two days is honest if you want a sunrise launch, a quiet afternoon paddle, and a night in Khulna to sample the local hilsa‑curry at Bawali Restaurant; a longer stay only adds more grid‑locked ferry rides and the same few dolphins.

Source · Wikipedia · Shibsha Dolphin Sanctuary · CC-BY-SA

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