A male dolphin calf, aged 6 weeks, has been recently found death in the Kampi pool in Kratie province, Mr. Ouk Vibol, Director of the Department of Fisheries Conservation of Fisheries Administration confirmed with AKP this morning.
The calf carcass was discovered floating at the right below the Kampi pool, about 200 metres by a fisherman who then reported to river guards at Kampi, he said.
The dolphin calf weights 13 kilogrammes with a body length of 102 centimetres, he pointed out.
The cause of the death is still unknown as the body condition has no significant sign of wound or trauma, he added.
Mr. Ouk Vibol expressed his worry about the death of dolphin calves, calling on the competent forces to strengthen their patrol, particularly at night, and the general public to take part in dolphin conservation and to stop using prohibited fishing gear.
The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are fully protected under Cambodia’s Fisheries Law. The population is ranked as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, the highest international threat ranking for endangered species.
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