Wildest India S01E02 - Ganges: River of Life

Episode Overview

The Ganges, India’s longest river, originates from the icy peaks of the Himalayas and flows into the vast Bay of Bengal. Despite the severe threat of pollution from human activity, wildlife continues to thrive in its waters. Hindus regard the Ganges as a sacred source of purification, a belief that finds some validation in science: tiny organisms present in the river consume harmful bacteria, and its exceptionally high oxygen levels expedite the breakdown of organic waste more efficiently than in any other river. This remarkable self-purification allows the Ganges to support the Sundarbans swamp, home to India’s largest population of wild tigers, which have become dangerously unafraid of humans.

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