Picture by The Great TripA Mekong Dolphin, seen near Kratie in Cambodia
Mekong Dolphins are "on the brink of extinction", the WWF warned in June 2009. The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) population inhabits a 190km stretch of the Mekong River between Cambodia and Laos. Since 2003, the population has suffered 88 deaths of which over 60 percent were calves under two weeks old, the WWF counted. The latest population is estimated between 64 and 76 members, the WWF said. "Researchers found toxic levels of pesticides such as DDT and environmental contaminants such as PCBs during analysis of the dead dolphin calves". High levels of mercury (suspected to be from gold mining activities) were also found. It affects the immune system making the animals more susceptible to infectious disease.
Canadian conservationist Ian Baird has studied the Dolphin population on the Lao side of the border. Between 1990 and 1998 he counted many deaths of dolphins, because they "got entangled in nylon fish nettings set up by local fishermen to catch other fish, and drowned", he is quoted in an article by Wiwat Pandawutiyanon. He thinks, that only around ten dolphins still live on the Lao side of the border, chased by the tourists on Don Khon and Don Det.
The Livestock and Fishery Department has started a project for further protection of the Irrawaddy Dolphins in collaboration with Japanese experts, "The Mekong River" noted in january 2010.
The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.
See a video on vimeo.
Read more background by WWF Cambodia
In Cambodia and Laos there ar old myths about the Mekong Dolphin, collected by Canadian conservationist Ian Baird.
The Irrawaddy Dolphin species is also found in parts of the Bay of Bengal.
Picture by jimdavidson
Picture by romancrowleyRead more:
Don Sahon Dam project threatens Mekong Dolphins
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