PHNOM PENH: According to a report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries published on September 2, seven newborn dolphins have been reported this year, while three of them have died as of August 2023. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, there are less than 100 individuals remaining in the Mekong, with the last dolphin in Laos dying last year.

A dolphin calf was spotted on September 2 and was estimated to be about 20 days old, swimming in a herd of eight adult dolphins in Stung Treng province.

According to the report, one more dolphin has been born this year as compared to 2021 and 2022, when six newborns were recorded. In 2022, however, 11 dolphins died and in 2021, the population decreased by nine.

The Mekong River dolphin is considered a living national treasure of Cambodia and is one of the six rarest species of freshwater dolphins left in the world.

The Royal Government designated 120 km of Mekong River dolphin management areas, including 35 km in Stung Treng and 85 km in Kratie, which extends from the lower part of the Stung Treng Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge to the head of Koh Trong in Kratie province.

In those protected areas, the Royal Government prohibits fishing, aquaculture, and transit navigation with fishing gear from exceeding speeds of 30km per hour. However, small-scale fishing is allowed alongside dolphin watching, ecotourism development and economic and scientific research.

The most recent dolphin death was recorded on August 10, when a two-month old dolphin was found dead in the Kandal province following injuries caused by fishing net.