On a mission in the Mekong: saving the Irrawaddy dolphin from extinction
Unsustainable and illegal fishing practices, hydropower dam construction, and industrial pollution… These are among the environmental hazards threatening the survival of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River. But thanks to WWF’s work in Cambodia, dolphin numbers are rising, and H&M Group is helping to ensure the upward trend continues.
Irrawaddy dolphin watching may be popular among tourists in Cambodia, but it’s a spectator sport that’s hard to master. In fact, you’ll be lucky to catch a glimpse of the elusive creature in the Mekong River these days – because there are only about 92 left. That’s why this small grey and bulging forehead mammal has been firmly placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) critically endangered list.
Historically, the species has been found throughout the Great Lake Tonle Sap and the lower reaches of the Mekong – from southern Laos to the river delta in Vietnam – and in many of its tributaries. Today the remaining isolated Irrawaddy population is limited to the 190-kilometre stretch of the river between the Cambodian city of Kratié and the border with Laos.
Numbers have declined dramatically as a result of human activities. Illegal and indiscriminate fishing practices (including use of dynamite, chemical substances and gillnets), industrial pollution, the cascading hydropower dams and wide-scale development of other infrastructure are among the principal issues. Many dolphins have become entangled accidentally in gillnets, drowning as a result of fishing practice. They have suffered from the degradation of their habitat by contaminants, pollutants and the upstream dam construction along the Mekong.
With further dam projects in the pipeline, concern over the survival of the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin has been mounting in recent years and the environmental protection work has become intense.
WWF’s vision is to have stopped the decline of riverine dolphin populations in Asia and South America by 2030 and to have restored and doubled the most affected populations by then. Freshwater Dolphin Day is celebrated by WWF once a year in Kratié. A record 40,000 people – including government officials and tourists – participated in the latest event.
Reversing the negative trend
WWF has been working with researchers and local authorities for more than two decades on monitoring Irrawaddy dolphin numbers in the region. While there were about 200 dolphins in the Mekong River in 1997, by 2015 numbers had fallen to around 80. The good news is that the most recent inventory carried out in 2017 revealed that the population had grown by 15 per cent. There has been a decrease in adult mortality and an increase in new calves. Numbers are due to be checked again this year.
H&M is committed to ensuring that the positive trend continues by donating funds to support WWF’s conservation efforts. The work includes raising awareness of the plight of the river dolphin, river guard activities including the removal of gill nets, and the promotion and implementation of non-hydroelectric renewable energy solutions.
Stina Nyström, Programme manager Marine & Freshwater at WWF Sweden says: “The threats to the dolphins – and other species in the Mekong River – are severe and real, and we need to bring all efforts and resources possible to the task of saving them. This is why we are happy to see companies like H&M Group engage – both in conservation issues and in pushing for stronger policies on renewable energy as it is all connected.”
“The Mekong dolphins are not only part of the world living heritage but they also represent the national symbol and pride for all Cambodian people. Key threats to these species must be addressed collectively” said Teak Seng, Country Director of WWF-Cambodia.
Hopefully, the Mekong River’s Irrawaddy dolphin population is well on the way to recovery. But the fight must go on to ensure its survival.
Dolphin with a difference
The Irrawaddy dolphin has an adorable rounded head and short beak reminiscent of the beluga whale. Typically shy, it surfaces like a submarine, often just partially breaching the surface before diving back below.
The dolphin has a curious habit of spitting to herd fish. Highly sensitive to sound, it uses echolocation for prey detection, navigation and communication.
To the people of Cambodia, the dolphin is a magical creature with great cultural significance
This rare species is also found in isolated pockets in other parts of the world, including the Malampaya Sound in the Philippines, the Mahakam River in Indonesia, Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River (after which the dolphin is named), and the Sundarbans mangrove forest and coastal waters of Bangladesh.
