Khit / Yoon (NSS) – Jan 22

According to the Environment and Endangered Aquatic Species Conservation and Management Unit of the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, collaborations and arrangements are made to preserve the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins between the ministry and the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation group. 

A total of 79 Irrawaddy Dolphins are estimated to be settling in the Ayeyawady River at the time being, according to the surveys conducted in 2020. 

“There were 79 dolphins according to the previous surveys. At present, the number of dolphins is not decreasing. There are also baby dolphins. The residents also informed us when they found the baby dolphins.  Under the current situation, we are not able to do much patrolling, so only the local residents are taking conservation seriously,” U Han Win, chief officer of the Department of Fisheries, told NSS.

At present, authorities are conducting prohibitions, warnings, taking actions against and educating about catching the Irrawaddy Dolphins by fishermen with battery shocking. Also, relevant authorities will propose to the organizations under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation to perform Irrawaddy dolphin cooperative conservation activities. 

“We have plans to resume dolphin conservation activities with the conservation entities. In fact, there were discussions to cooperate with the LMC for conservation of the Irrawaddy Dolphins. However, the progresses were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If the situation returns to normal, we will offer to cooperate with he Lancang-Mekong groups,” U Han Win continued. 

The Irrawaddy Dolphins have been living in the area between Mandalay and Kyaukmyaung. However, the dolphins are moving and migrating to the new settlement areas since the Ayeyarwady River’s water level is gradually decreasing.