DPA
Phnom Penh - A Cambodian official Wednesday threatened to suspend the operations of an international wildlife group after it released a report claiming an endangered dolphin species was at risk of extinction due to pollution in the Mekong River.
Touch Seang Tana, chairman of Cambodia's Commission for Conversation and Development of the Mekong River Dolphins Eco-Tourism Zone, said World Wildlife Foundation (WFF) investigators faced suspension unless they met with him to discuss their report.
The WFF report released last week said 88 dolphins had died since 2003 and researchers had found toxic levels of pesticides and environmental contaminants in their analysis of Irrawaddy dolphin calves.
'This report simply is not true,' Touch Seang Tana told a press conference. 'These findings were reported without consultation with me, so I sent a letter to the WFF to come and meet with me to clarify these points.'
He denied that dolphin deaths were caused by pollution and said the report put Cambodia's burgeoning eco-tourism sector at risk.
'A few deaths have been caused by dolphins becoming trapped in fishing nets in the Mekong River, but it was not due to pollution,' he said. 'I wrote to the WFF to clarify this and if they do not wish to meet with me to discuss this, then their operations in the area could be suspended.'
The report estimated that between 64 and 76 dolphins remained in the 160-kilometre stretch of the Mekong that runs through Laos and Cambodia.
It said 60 per cent of the 88 deaths had occurred in dolphin calves less than two weeks old.
Touch Seang Tana, chairman of Cambodia's Commission for Conversation and Development of the Mekong River Dolphins Eco-Tourism Zone, said World Wildlife Foundation (WFF) investigators faced suspension unless they met with him to discuss their report.
The WFF report released last week said 88 dolphins had died since 2003 and researchers had found toxic levels of pesticides and environmental contaminants in their analysis of Irrawaddy dolphin calves.
'This report simply is not true,' Touch Seang Tana told a press conference. 'These findings were reported without consultation with me, so I sent a letter to the WFF to come and meet with me to clarify these points.'
He denied that dolphin deaths were caused by pollution and said the report put Cambodia's burgeoning eco-tourism sector at risk.
'A few deaths have been caused by dolphins becoming trapped in fishing nets in the Mekong River, but it was not due to pollution,' he said. 'I wrote to the WFF to clarify this and if they do not wish to meet with me to discuss this, then their operations in the area could be suspended.'
The report estimated that between 64 and 76 dolphins remained in the 160-kilometre stretch of the Mekong that runs through Laos and Cambodia.
It said 60 per cent of the 88 deaths had occurred in dolphin calves less than two weeks old.
8 comments:
What an inept, corrupted and demogue government official. Trying to be tougher than his one eyed bandit boss!
cambodia has to be skeptical because the politically motivated media was often very bias in its reports and view of cambodia and everything we do. so, don't be surprised by their bias reports, people! only the in field study will convince a skeptic like me to buy into their report! seeing is believing is the motto for cambodia. god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people and citizens and all its god creation within cambodia.
3:49 AM
Do you really believe in God? From your motto of seeing is believing, one can conclude that you must have seen God!
What does he look like?
I totally agree with Mr. Seang Touch Ratana to blame WWF not to consult with him first before the group release the report, so he could have time to change some figures.
It is also a questionable question on the death of dolphin calf from the tingling with fishing nets. May be one of those nets that he personally distributed to villagers in an island and western site of Mekong River bank in Siembok District, Stung Treng Province during the time leading to 2008 general election. If so, he personally responsible for the death of those dolphin calves.
WWF has done great job in conservation of fresh water dolphins in the Mekong River, while Seang Touch Ratana taking all credits.
Oh God, how our leaders are so proud of themsel and so arrogant to any internationale organisation that say something against its governance and seem to say they are all themselves perfect in everything, and rejected everything international orginsation said to be all and all the time false.
If they close their ears and shut their eyes to the international organisation, how worse they haughtly treat their own people, poor needy uneducated people ?
OH God, you know so well the heart of these rulers toward your people. I plead for your mercy and grace to free your people from the grip the oppression of the evil leaders and rulers.
Have mercy on them Father for they have suffered for too long now.
5:09am, some smarty pants! stick to the topic here, guy; we're talking about cambodia here, not a religious debate, you know! anyway, do come to cambodia to conduct a field study for the dolphin before jumping to the wrong, hysterical conclusion! the problem is the bias outside reports, here! if they are being fairly and seasonable, then, we all can see their point; however, they are so bias or one-sided in their wishful report, hello, you are just wake up?
10:19AM stop hello1 get some point dude!
Your boss not to keep paying stupid frog like you!
We should keep those foreigner away! Whay they do are giving trouble!
Kik them out Mr. PM.
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