Original report from Phnom Penh
18 June 2009
Only between 64 and 74 Irrawady dolphins remain in the river between Cambodia and Laos, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature announced Wednesday.
Pollution from DDT, mercury and other toxins have led to a sharp decline in the rare species, with as many as 88 individuals dying since 2003, according to a recent report.
“These pollutants are widely distributed in the environment and so the source of this pollution may involve several countries through which the Mekong River flows”, said Verné Dove, report author and veterinarian with WWF Cambodia.
The organization is investigating the source of the contaminants, he said.
According to the international institution, high levels of mercury were found in some of the dead dolphins. Mercury, suspected to be from gold mining activities, directly affects the immune system, making the animals more susceptible to infectious disease.
WWF is working to conserve the species in Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Touch Sean Tana, secretary of state for the Council of Ministers and head of Cambodia's Commission to Conserve Mekong River Dolphins and Develop Ecotourism, denied the findings.
“Ninety-nine percent of the dolphins die because they are trapped in nets,” he said, denying that DDT and mercury were responsible.
“They want to cook their eggs, but they burn down our house,” he said of the WWF, adding that according to his estimates, 150 to 160 of the dolphins live in the Mekong between Cambodia and Laos.
Pollution from DDT, mercury and other toxins have led to a sharp decline in the rare species, with as many as 88 individuals dying since 2003, according to a recent report.
“These pollutants are widely distributed in the environment and so the source of this pollution may involve several countries through which the Mekong River flows”, said Verné Dove, report author and veterinarian with WWF Cambodia.
The organization is investigating the source of the contaminants, he said.
According to the international institution, high levels of mercury were found in some of the dead dolphins. Mercury, suspected to be from gold mining activities, directly affects the immune system, making the animals more susceptible to infectious disease.
WWF is working to conserve the species in Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Touch Sean Tana, secretary of state for the Council of Ministers and head of Cambodia's Commission to Conserve Mekong River Dolphins and Develop Ecotourism, denied the findings.
“Ninety-nine percent of the dolphins die because they are trapped in nets,” he said, denying that DDT and mercury were responsible.
“They want to cook their eggs, but they burn down our house,” he said of the WWF, adding that according to his estimates, 150 to 160 of the dolphins live in the Mekong between Cambodia and Laos.
1 comment:
Very intersting reading to see the denial of Mr. Touch Seang Tana to the fact finding. If his allegation is true that "ninety-nine percent of the dolphins died because they are trapped in the nets", the low number of fresh water dolphins caused also from his personal involvement in the fishing practices, especially in Stung Treng Province. Leading to general election in 2008, despite of gillnet ban, Sean Tana had given number of gillnets to his CPP supporters at number of villagers at Koh Krouch, Koh Sampeay, and other villages at the westside bank of Mekong River in Siembook commune, Siembook district, Stung Treng Province to gain his political purposes. Those gillnets are later used to kill dolphins, as he claimed.
He is a swine.
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