Numbers of Endangered and Sacred River Dolphin Grow by 6 After Successful Breeding Season.
Conservationists in Cambodia confirmed at least six Irrawaddy dolphin calves born this year on the Mekong River, lifting the estimated population to 118, according to a Mongabay report.
By late June, conservationists had confirmed at least six Irrawaddy dolphin calves born this year along a 120-kilometer (75-mile) stretch of the Mekong River in Cambodia, Mongabay reports. Five were in Kratie province and one in Stung Treng. The estimated population now stands at 118.
Officials told Mongabay the births show the population is still reproducing and could recover if threats are kept in check. I Sanaroth, the Kampi fisheries chief, credited joint conservation work. "The population of the Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins has increased due to joint conservation," he said. The work is carried out by the Fisheries Administration with financial and technical support from WWF-Cambodia and other partners. In 2014 the two groups launched an initiative to balance dolphin protection with community livelihoods, helping fishing households rely less on wild fish.
The recovery starts from a low base. The dolphin population in Cambodia's stretch of the Mekong fell from an estimated 200 in the late 1990s to a little over 100, driven by hunting, bycatch in gillnets and habitat degradation. Communities in Cambodia and Laos regard the animals as sacred, and boat operators such as Heang Koeurn earn income taking tourists to see them at Kampi pool.
Pressures remain. Gillnets are banned only inside a 180-kilometer (112-mile) protected zone in Kratie and Stung Treng, set up in 2012 and patrolled by 72 river guards. Sanaroth said gillnets are still used there on a small scale. Patroller Veang Tino said patrols are limited in numbers and equipment. Another patroller, Kem Sophat, said river guards earn $5 to $7.50 per day and use their own boats.
The Anlong Chheu Teal pool on the Laos-Cambodia border shows what loss can mean. Its last dolphin died on Feb. 15, 2022, after becoming entangled in illegal fishing gear, and a community leader said tourist numbers have since declined. The Mekong and its tributaries also have more than 160 operational dams. Ian Baird of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said upstream dams are not known to kill the dolphins directly but are altering the river's hydrology and the fish communities the animals eat.
Note: The headline says the population grew by 6. The page says at least six calves were confirmed born this year, lifting the estimate to 118, but it does not give a prior count or a net increase.
At a Glance
- At least six calves were confirmed born in 2026 by late June: five in Kratie province and one in Stung Treng.
- The estimated Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin population in Cambodia is now 118, down from an estimated 200 individuals in the late 1990s.
- A protected core habitat zone of 180 kilometers (112 miles) was established in 2012, with 72 river guards assigned to patrol it.
- The last dolphin in the Anlong Chheu Teal pool died on Feb. 15, 2022, after entanglement in illegal fishing gear.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.