We raises awareness about the importance of protecting Myanmar’s Irrawaddy dolphins & the tradition of cooperative fishing, providing information to local people, visitors, and the international community. Research says 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins lived in the area at the time. And, we made a stop to see the Irrawaddy river dolphins nearby. Sadly, this unique marine mammal is in danger of extinction, with an estimated population of only 300 in existence today. They seem to do this … Irrawaddy dolphins look just like baby beluga whales, only with dorsal fins, but they are not closely related. Our conservation linkages are the following. Unlike the iconic bottlenose variety, the Irrawaddy has a rounder face and long, sleek body. The Irrawaddy is very cool because it has adapted to team up with fishermen.This helps the dolphin because while the dolphin chases the fish they will get stuck in the mud and some fish will become easy prey while they are confused by the nets movements. The Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project uses tourism as a tool for conservation. Become a member of conservation by January 31 and your donation of $1,000 or more will be matched. We generate income for fishermen and their families, providing incentives to reduce threats to dolphins (electrofishing, drift nets, poisoning). Although Srey Sokkea and his fellow river guards are doing everything they can to save it. Fisher Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Dolphins. In Cambodia, we did a homestay (like we did in the Mekong Delta, in Vietnam). Although it's in the name, the Irrawaddy dolphin looks more like a whale as it doesn't have a beak, which is a common feature among dolphins. We can only hope the rare dolphin species is resilient and the oil is cleaned up quickly to help preserve the species and the sanctuary. “The alarming decline of Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins in Laos that we have witnessed this year is tragic,” Teak Seng, WWF Conservation Director for the Greater Mekong, said in a statement. At this point, its too soon to say how many ways the oil spill will affect the Irrawaddy dolphin species. Close coordination and development of techniques or even projects that the LGU can eventually adopt and be the ones responsible for sustaining. Project Irrawaddy is initiated by the Earth Island Institute Asia-Pacific. We conducted semi-structured questionnaire surveys in 30 villages (n = 299 interviewees) from 15th January to 5th June 2008, around the “Outer Channel” region, to assess the attitudes and perceptions of fishers towards Irrawaddy dolphins.Surveys were based on pilot informal group discussions conducted with fishers. The Irrawaddy dolphin is a sacred animal in Cambodia and an important source of jobs and eco-tourism dollars, but it could soon be extinct in the Mekong. If we aren't careful then the dolphins could die out :( Asked in Dolphins and Porpoises, Taxonomy What is the scientific name for the irrawaddy dolphin? They can spit spouts of water from their mouths into the air. We learned a lot about how local families live, and even went to a Cambodian wedding. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE ASIA-PACIFIC INITIATIVE. We are concerned about the impending extinction of the Irrawaddy dolphin. You are our people. This last river has the fewest dolphins, with only about 75 adults living there. In the national level, with much information gathered we can ask for the help of policy makers and legislators in creating laws for protecting the Irrawaddy and their habitat. Jamie did a video post about our homestay, which you can see here. In the national level, with much information gathered we can ask for the help of policy makers and legislators in creating laws for protecting the Irrawaddy … Pollution, river traffic, and indiscriminate fishing techniques – including the use of car batteries - have pushed the Irrawaddy dolphin to the very brink. How tourism & fishing are helping to save Irrawaddy dolphins in Myanmar ... We wanted to help fishing communities develop community-based tourism in order to reduce the use of illegal fishing methods and promote the tradition of cooperative fishing with dolphins. Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong. If you are holidaying in Southeast Asia then make sure you keep a weather eye for this mammal: to help you we've created a fact file, so you know exactly what to look out for. Visitors can also donate to support our conservation activities. Appearance . These dolphins have a bulging … Irrawaddy Dolphins Disappearing from the Mekong River Isabel L. Beasley, Ph.D. As a result of intense competition with humans for freshwater resources, freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin populations are some of the most endangered of all cetacean species. The Irrawaddy dolphin generally inhabits coastal areas and is not found in offshore waters. The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit a 118-mile stretch of the river between Cambodia and Lao PDR and are scarce—just 92 individuals are estimated to still exist. The animal is also known to live in Chika Lake in India as well as Songkhla Lake in Thailand.