protected areas in the Mekong to save a rare dolphin

It was announced today by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, because last month three specimens caught in fishing nets died. The number of Irawadi dolphins has decreased from 200 to 90. The animals also attract local tourism, the prime minister said.

Phnom Penh ( / Agency) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen today ordered the creation of conservation areas to protect Irawadi dolphins, an endangered species. Known for their short beak, they once swam the entire length of the Mekong, Indochina’s most important watercourse, which in addition to crossing Cambodia also crosses China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. However, for decades Irawadi dolphins have only been found in a stretch of about 190 km in the north-eastern province of Kratie, on the border with Laos and due to habitat loss and intensive fishing practices, their numbers have decreased from 200 in 1997 to 90 today.

Hun Sen explained that floating banners will be placed around protected areas, where there will be an “absolute ban” on fishing: “The Mekong River, which is home to dolphins and endangered fish species, must be managed so that dolphins do not die. caught in fishing nets,” the prime minister said, adding that the presence of animals has contributed to local tourism.

Three young dolphins died last month after becoming entangled in fishing nets, alarming environmentalists, who called for day and night patrols to protect the other dolphins from illegal fishing.

According to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), in 2022 11 dolphins died, bringing the count of the last three years to 29.