The WWF has recently put out a report stating that a rare species of dolphin native to South-East Asia is on the brink of extinction.
The survey reveals that Irrawaddy Dolphin populations have declined to as little as 85 living specimens in the Mekong River alone, with leading researchers agreeing the species is at the top of the danger list for extinction, with the main contributing factors being gill netting and the dolphin's decline in calf survival, which is currently at an all time low. 
Using photographic mark-recapture, researchers carried out the study to monitor the dolphin populations through unique markings on their individual dorsal fins, with similar methods being used for surveys across the animal kingdom with other species including whales, tigers and leopards. It is considered that only three populations of the dolphins remain, in the Mekong, the Irrawaddy and the Mahakam Rivers of Indonesia, with the survey covering the Mekong River population, though all three populations are critically endangered, with the continued threat of gill netting and the continued calf mortality rate, for which causes are still unclear.“Evidence is strong that very few young animals survive to adulthood, as older dolphins die off and are not replaced”.
- Dr. Li Lifeng, Director of WWF’s Freshwater Program
“These dolphins are at high risk of extinction by their small population size alone. With the added threats of gill net entanglement and high calf mortality, we are seriously concerned about their future.”
- Barney Long, WWF’s Asian Species Expert
What you can do to help support the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation efforts:
No comments:
Post a Comment