Lesson 71: Saving the Irrawaddy Dolphin

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Fact & Info Desk

Lesson 71: Cambodian Geography & Nature (B2)

Research Mission: Read this ecological briefing about the Irrawaddy dolphin in Cambodia. Focus on the specific threats causing their numbers to decline and the strategies being used to save them. Hover over the underlined words for definitions.

Ecological Brief: The Fight to Save the Irrawaddy Dolphin

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a distinctive freshwater species known for its bulging forehead and short beak. Once widespread throughout the Mekong River, today they are inhabiting only a 190km stretch of the river in Cambodia, between Kratie town and the Laos border. They are considered a sacred species by many locals and are a vital indicator of the river's overall health.

However, the population is classified as critically endangered. The primary cause of adult dolphin mortality is entanglement in fishing gear, specifically gillnets, which cause them to drown. Other significant threats include illegal fishing practices, habitat degradation from upstream hydropower dams, and water pollution.

Urgent action is being taken to prevent extinction. Government agencies and conservationists, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), are working to enforce bans on gillnets within designated protected zones. They are also collaborating with local communities to develop ecotourism as an alternative sustainable livelihood, reducing dependency on fishing in dolphin habitats.

Academic Comprehension Check (B2)

1. According to the text, what is the main reason adult Irrawaddy dolphins are dying?

2. Where is the current remaining habitat of these dolphins in Cambodia?

3. What is one strategy conservationists are using to help local communities and protect dolphins simultaneously?