An Irrawaddy dolphin, also known as the Mekong dolphin, swims in the river at Kampi village in Kratie province, 230 km (143 miles) northeast of Cambodia, March 25, 2007. (Chor Sokunthea/Reuters)PHNOM PENH, March 5 (Reuters) - A sharp drop in the number Mekong dolphins born in Cambodia has renewed fears for the survival of the rare mammals, wildlife experts said on Wednesday.
Only three baby dolphins, one of them dead, were found during an annual survey conducted in late November, down from six newborns in previous years, Touch Seang Tana told Reuters.
Their weight had also dropped to under 2 kg (4.4 lb) from 5 kg (11 lb) in the 1980s, the chairman of the Commission for Mekong Dolphins Conservation said.
"A group of 10 full-grown dolphins living in the upper Mekong River had no babies at all this year," he said, blaming a shortage of fish and rising water temperatures which might have affected their reproductive systems.
There are about 150 dolphins living in the upper Mekong River, up from only 90 before a 2006 ban on net fishing in the eastern provinces of Kratie and Steung Treng.
Conservationists had hoped for a surge in newborn dolphins after the ban was imposed.
"Global warming may be a possible indirect threat to the dolphin population, particularly if their fitness is reduced," said Teak Seng of the World Wildlife Fund.
"Dolphins are very sensitive to changes in their environment such as water temperature and quality. Other factors may be more influential such as diseases and water pollution," he said.
(Reporting by Ek Madra; Editing by Darren Schuettler)
Only three baby dolphins, one of them dead, were found during an annual survey conducted in late November, down from six newborns in previous years, Touch Seang Tana told Reuters.
Their weight had also dropped to under 2 kg (4.4 lb) from 5 kg (11 lb) in the 1980s, the chairman of the Commission for Mekong Dolphins Conservation said.
"A group of 10 full-grown dolphins living in the upper Mekong River had no babies at all this year," he said, blaming a shortage of fish and rising water temperatures which might have affected their reproductive systems.
There are about 150 dolphins living in the upper Mekong River, up from only 90 before a 2006 ban on net fishing in the eastern provinces of Kratie and Steung Treng.
Conservationists had hoped for a surge in newborn dolphins after the ban was imposed.
"Global warming may be a possible indirect threat to the dolphin population, particularly if their fitness is reduced," said Teak Seng of the World Wildlife Fund.
"Dolphins are very sensitive to changes in their environment such as water temperature and quality. Other factors may be more influential such as diseases and water pollution," he said.
(Reporting by Ek Madra; Editing by Darren Schuettler)
12 comments:
You know what? Sure that we can promote tourism field by this dolphin, but on the other hand, tourists can also affect their lives. While they are on boat watcihing them, the dolphin touches the boat while they are emerging from the water.
That is sad, cos they are hurt and then became sick.
So how? What can we do to make it better?
BW,
c.
Okay, if you want to save a specie of animal successfully. Like anything else, you have to study about them: where they live, where the mate, where they spawn, how fast they move, react ... the more you know the better. After that you can keep boat from going in a certain area where they hang out or put up a speed limit a certain area. That way you won't knock them unconscious ... .
So they do it in that way?
if so, i am happy to hear. but i used to hear some died cos of the boats.
Thanks for explanation!
best to you,
c.
You welcome, mate (6:32), but no, you are right. In some rare case, some dolphin and other large fish do indeed died from large boat if they get caught in the boat propeller. It can rip off their hive and causing them to be infected by parasite and virus.
PS: and oh, another thing that we can do to protect large fish and dolphin from boat propeller is to create a bars screen around the boat propeller. That way the fish will get hit by the bars screen instead of the dangerous propeller directly.
Kwack capitain!
Kwack nightmare!
Kwack sindrome!
please educate khmer people about the importance of saving the rare, endangered khmer dolphins in the mekong river. it is not only one of the living treasure of cambodia, it is also belongs to the entire world also as they are found only in cambodia.
not only in Cambodia, but most in Cambodia!
Well, if the stupid dolphin belong to the entire world, we want the owner to pay for their rent. Cambodia land is not a Pet's Land, you know?
Thanks 7.16PM. U know alot. I admire your knowledge. I will learn more.
best wishes,
c.
Don't mention it, 8:59. We all here with open mind to learn from each other.
May lord Buddha be with you!
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