Lesson 71: Saving the Irrawaddy Dolphin

🐬 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 ille…