A fairly large population of Irrawaddy dolphins has been spotted in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. 20 individuals at once - scientists have never seen such a large group of Irrawaddyans. Biologists consider this a huge success, given that no more than two hundred of these animals remain in nature.
The population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins was discovered quite by accident by employees of the Vietnam Institute of Tropical Biology during an expedition in the Kien Giang conservation area. The researchers called on the governments of all countries along which the Mekong flows to take all necessary measures to protect the endangered species.
Irrawaddy dolphins have some features that are unique to this species. Firstly, the jaws of these animals are not elongated, which deprives them of the beak-like protrusion on the muzzle that is usual for dolphins. Secondly, Irrawaddy dolphins live in both sea and fresh water. Thirdly, the Irrawaddy is one of the few cetaceans whose neck can move in different directions. While exploring the territory, these amazing creatures raise their heads above the water and turn them in all directions to see everything that surrounds them. However, they appear above the water surface very rarely, so they are not so easy to see in the wild. In all zoological databases they appear as a “species for which there is insufficient data.” 
Southeast Asian fishermen note that Irrawaddy dolphins were once not uncommon. Schools of these animals even collaborated with fishermen: they remembered the location of the nets and deliberately drove a school of fish straight into it, knowing for sure that the trap would help stop it. In the 19th century, each fishing village had “its own” pod of driving dolphins.
But such cooperation with people played a cruel joke on the Irrawaddy people. Baby dolphins, unlike adults, could not always stop in time when driving fish into the net, and they themselves fell into a deadly trap. According to studies from the mid-20th century, infant mortality among Irrawaddy dolphins reached 60%, and with the transition of fishermen to trawl fishing, this figure increased to 80%. This, apparently, led to the extinction of the species.
In addition, the decline in the number of Irrawaddy dolphins was also influenced by the deterioration of the ecology in their habitats. High concentrations of mercury and other toxic substances were found in tissue samples from some of the dead animals. But in this case, you shouldn’t blame the poachers. The fact is that Irrawaddy dolphins in Southeast Asia are considered sacred animals, and you can pay with your life for their targeted extermination.
"Dolphin numbers continue to decline, with few calves reaching breeding age," World Wildlife Fund Mekong officials said. An effective way to protect these animals from complete extinction is to ban trawling in protected areas.
We can only hope that the authorities of the countries through which the Mekong flows will listen to the appeals of environmentalists and take care of the well-being of the remaining Irrawaddy dolphins.
The number of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River has dropped to 85 individuals. According to WWF, the population is at high risk of extinction.
The fact that these marine mammals, considered sacred in Cambodia and Laos, are closer than ever to extinction is indicated by their extremely small numbers and extremely low survival rate of their calves. Old dolphins die, and there are no replacements for them, since only a few young animals reach adulthood.
To count dolphins from 2007–2010, WWF used photography technology, which involves identifying each animal by a unique marking on its dorsal fin; Previously, this technique was used to estimate the population sizes of whales, tigers, horses, leopards and other animals.
The only species in the genus Orcellus. These beaked dolphins reach 2.2 m in length, have a spherical head and moderately long pectoral fins. The general body color is slate gray. Orcella brevirostris inhabits the coastal waters of Southeast Asia, from Madras to Bangkok, including the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Gulf of Thailand.
O. brevirostris lives in both sea and fresh water, and therefore is often kept in dolphinariums. The riverine subspecies lives not only in the Mekong, but also in the Irrawaddy (Burma) and Mahakam (Indonesia) rivers. WWF studied only the inhabitants of the Mekong, but biologists say that all three populations are on the verge of extinction.
Fishermen are very fond of the Irrawaddy dolphin because it helps them catch fish in their nets. However, it is fishing nets that are the main source of danger for O. brevirostris: the animal gets entangled in them and dies. People living in dolphin habitats will suffer from a decline in the population of this species. Since these marine mammals are considered sacred, many locals and tourists are eager to admire them, thereby developing ecotourism. If dolphins disappear, the flow of “ecotourism” dollars will dry up, which will lead to a sharp drop in the standard of living of the local population.
According to biologists, it is possible to save dolphins in the Mekong only if the authorities of Cambodia and Laos join forces and take immediate action. For example, the Cambodian government should establish a clear legal framework for the conservation of O. brevirostris, including the establishment of protected areas and banning or limiting the use of set nets by fishermen.
Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River have decreased to 85 individuals. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population is at high risk of extinction.
The fact that these marine mammals, considered sacred in Cambodia and Laos, are closer than ever to extinction is indicated by their extremely small numbers and extremely low survival rate of their calves. Old dolphins die, and there are no replacements for them, since only a few young animals reach adulthood.
To count dolphins from 2007–2010, WWF used photography technology, which involves identifying each animal by a unique marking on its dorsal fin; Previously, this technique was used to estimate the population sizes of whales, tigers, horses, leopards and other animals.
Irrawaddy dolphin- the only species in the genus Orcellus. These beaked dolphins reach 2.2 m in length, have a spherical head and moderately long pectoral fins. The general body color is slate gray. Orcella brevirostris inhabits the coastal waters of Southeast Asia, from Madras to Bangkok, including the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Gulf of Thailand.
O. brevirostris lives in both sea and fresh water, and therefore is often kept in dolphinariums. The riverine subspecies lives not only in the Mekong, but also in the Irrawaddy (Burma) and Mahakam (Indonesia) rivers. WWF studied only the inhabitants of the Mekong, but biologists say that all three populations are on the verge of extinction.
Fishermen are very fond of the Irrawaddy dolphin because it helps them catch fish in their nets. However, it is fishing nets that are the main source of danger for O. brevirostris: the animal gets entangled in them and dies. People living in dolphin habitats will suffer from a decline in the population of this species. Since these marine mammals are considered sacred, many locals and tourists are eager to admire them, thereby developing ecotourism. If dolphins disappear, the flow of “ecotourism” dollars will dry up, which will lead to a sharp drop in the standard of living of the local population.
According to biologists, it is possible to save dolphins in the Mekong only if the authorities of Cambodia and Laos join forces and take immediate action. For example, the Cambodian government should establish a clear legal framework for the conservation of O. brevirostris, including the creation of protected areas and banning or limiting the use of fixed nets by fishermen, writes
They are named after the Irrawaddy River in Burma, which is indeed one of the last habitats of this rare dolphin. The Irrawaddy dolphin is not entirely a freshwater dolphin, because it also swims in the sea, but it is not a sea dolphin, either. lives in river deltas.
The Irrawaddy dolphin is common in Southeast Asia, and primarily lives in the mouths of fresh water rivers, near mangrove forests. In the Mahakam River (Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo), the Irrawaddy dolphin population is threatened by fishing, poaching and habitat degradation, and can only list 34 dolphins.
The Irrawaddy is very different from other dolphins and was even classified as a cetacean for a long time, perhaps due to the fact that it can eject water from its mouth in a stream. The dolphin has such a large growth on its head that its beak is indistinguishable. The body length of an adult dolphin is slightly more than two meters, and the color, intense on the back, is almost white on the abdomen.
The lifestyle of Irrawaddy dolphins seems to be very accessible to study: they live in the mouths of rivers and in the sea near the coasts, dive under water for no more than two and a half minutes, and willingly make contact with humans.
However, little is known about Irrawaddy dolphins - only that they usually live in small groups of 5-6 dolphins and feed mainly on shrimp and fish. It is also known that the Irrawaddy is not a very good swimmer, at least it does not develop great speed. The Irrawaddy swims, spinning in the water, raising its tail above the surface quite rarely, mainly when it needs to dive deeper.
Burmese fishermen get along very well with Irrawaddy dolphins, and they willingly help them fish. Dolphins drive fish into nets, and for this they receive their share of the catch.
They are named after the Irrawaddy River in Burma, which is indeed one of the last habitats of this rare dolphin. The Irrawaddy dolphin is not entirely a freshwater dolphin, because it also swims in the sea, but it is not a sea dolphin, either. lives in river deltas.
Little-studied animals: IRAWADI DOLPHIN.
The Irrawaddy dolphin is common in Southeast Asia, and primarily lives in the mouths of fresh water rivers, near mangrove forests. In the Mahakam River (Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo), the Irrawaddy dolphin population is threatened by fishing, poaching and habitat degradation, and can only list 34 dolphins.
The Irrawaddy is very different from other dolphins and was even classified as a cetacean for a long time, perhaps due to the fact that it can eject water from its mouth in a stream. The dolphin has such a large growth on its head that its beak is indistinguishable. The body length of an adult dolphin is slightly more than two meters, and the color, intense on the back, is almost white on the abdomen.
The lifestyle of Irrawaddy dolphins seems to be very accessible to study: they live in the mouths of rivers and in the sea near the coasts, dive under water for no more than two and a half minutes, and willingly make contact with humans.
However, little is known about Irrawaddy dolphins - only that they usually live in small groups of 5-6 dolphins and feed mainly on shrimp and fish. It is also known that the Irrawaddy is not a very good swimmer, at least it does not develop great speed. The Irrawaddy swims, spinning in the water, raising its tail above the surface quite rarely, mainly when it needs to dive deeper.
Burmese fishermen get along very well with Irrawaddy dolphins, and they willingly help them fish. Dolphins drive fish into nets, and for this they receive their share of the catch.
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