The Ministry of Environment has urged relevant authorities and the general public to further participate in the conservation of Mekong’s Irrawaddy dolphins in Cambodia, as the mammals’ population has long been critically endangered.
Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment H.E. Neth Pheaktra said that a total of 89 dolphins are swimming in the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
He continued that every year many dolphins are found dead by mainly fishing nets and electric shocks, stressing that the “Zero-Snaring Campaign” does not only focus on land and air snares, but also on water snares such as nets and other fishing gear in dolphin conservation areas.
H.E. Secretary of State called for more participation in the conservation of Mekong dolphins and other biodiversity so that Cambodia can maintain the global natural value for the preparation to propose these protected areas on the World Natural Heritage List of UNESCO.
The Mekong’s Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
In 2021, an estimated number of 95 dolphins were recorded in the Mekong River in Cambodia, up from 93 in 2020 and 89 in 2019, pointed out a report of the Department of Fisheries Conservation.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press