Cambodia Irrawaddy dolphin

The Irrawaddy dolphin symbolizes the magnificence of the Mekong River and its continued high biodiversity. The number of dolphin remaining in the Mekong River is estimated between 78 and 91 individuals. Even this low number would make the Mekong subpopulation the largest of only five remaining critically endangered freshwater populations of this species in the world.

The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) inhabits a 190km stretch of the mainstream Mekong River between Kratie, Cambodia and Khone Falls on the border with Lao PDR.

WWF has identified the Irrawaddy dolphin as a flagship species for the conservation of the Mekong River because these dolphins have certain minimum habitat requirements that reflect the health of the river ecosystem for other species, including humans: They require sufficient, undisrupted water, abundant prey, waters unobstructed by human activity and construction, and a clean river system. As a result, population decline in dolphins should ring alarm bells that all is not well in the river. Millions of Cambodians depend on the Mekong’s water for daily use and irrigation and use its fish as a key source of protein and income. To maintain these important resources for an expanding human population, the Mekong must function as a healthy ecosystem with high biodiversity. As the dolphin is generally revered by local people, the species makes a good flagship to mobilize support for broader river environment conservation issues.

The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie province of Cambodia. Irrawaddy dolphin is symbol of Kratie province, with only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they are worth a visit. Whether you are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or taking a full circuit trip around the east and northeast, Kratie is a nice place to spend a night or two.