The elusive Ganges shark is a ghost of the river, unseen for nearly a decade.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep in the murky waters of the Indian subcontinent, a rare predator hides in plain sight. The Ganges shark is so elusive that wildlife experts have not confirmed a single sighting since 2016. Often mistaken for its more common cousin, the bull shark, this critically endangered species remains a mystery.

The Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus) is an enigmatic inhabitant of tropical river systems, estuaries, and coastal waters across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Unlike many other sharks, it is adapted to life in low-visibility, turbid environments. Its small, upward-tilted eyes are thought to be a specialized trait for scanning the water above while it cruises along the riverbed, likely using heightened senses of smell and electroreception to hunt for fish and stingrays.

Despite its name, the species is notoriously difficult to track. Most of what scientists know comes from historical fishery reports and the occasional discovery of fins in markets rather than direct observation. Experts estimate that fewer than 240 mature individuals remain in the wild. The species faces a gauntlet of threats, including habitat fragmentation from hydroelectric dams, water pollution from industrial runoff, and the constant danger of being caught as bycatch in small-scale fishing operations.

Taxonomy has been a significant hurdle in understanding this shark. For years, researchers struggled to distinguish it from the bull shark, which shares its habitat. Furthermore, genetic analysis has recently led to the reclassification of other river sharks, such as those once identified as the Borneo river shark, as members of the same species. With no known natural predators and a lifespan estimated at 12 to 15 years, the Ganges shark is currently ranked among the 20 most threatened shark species on the planet, having been officially listed as critically endangered by the IUCN since 2021.

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