SEMINAR & PROJECT LAUNCH - MAY 28, 2003
PHATTALUNG, THAILAND
| Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris)
are among the cetaceans at greatest
risk of disappearing from Asian waters.
Freshwater populations occur in three
river systems - the Mahakam of Indonesia,
the Ayeyarwady (formerly Irrawaddy)
of Myanmar (formerly Burma), and the
Mekong of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Irrawaddy dolphins can also be found in brackish water bodies, including Songkhla Lake in Thailand and Chilka Lake in India, and in the coastal marine waters of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. During a recent scientific investigation of Irrawaddy dolphins in Songkhla Lake, conducted by Nitikorn Piwpong of the Thailand Department of Fisheries and Isabel Beasley of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, UK, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, USA, very few dolphins were observed and records were obtained of 28 dolphins that have stranded since 1990. At least 13 of these died from entanglement in gill nets. The status of this population is very precarious and even low levels of accidental killing could quickly lead to its disappearance from the lake. Due to their friendly nature and charming appearance, Irrawaddy dolphins have been designated as the official mascot of the Songkhla Province. An adult Irrawaddy dolphin is about 2 to 2.7 metre in length. Males are slightly larger than females. Their dorsal fin is small and triangular with a rounded tip and the head is blunt with no beak. Their colour is dark grey with a lighter belly. A newborn dolphin is about one metre in length and fully weaned when it is two years old. The maximum age of an Irrawaddy dolphin is approximately 30 years. Despite the great love the people of Thailand have for the animals they will soon vanish from Songkhla Lake unless urgent action is taken to conserve them. The Wildlife Conservation Society and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society are working together with the Thailand Departments of Forestry and Fisheries and the Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Society in Phattalung to investigate the status of Irrawaddy dolphins in Songkhla Lake and to develop an action plan for their conservation. The overall aim of this project is to study the dolphin population, their habitat, and the threats they face, and to use this information for developing a community-based conservation plan. The research portion of this project was identified as a top priority in a landmark document: Dolphins, Whales, and Porpoises: 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World's Cetaceans, recently published by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). SEMINARA seminar for local government officials and community leaders to launch the project will be held on 28 May at the Phattalung Provincial Governor's Hall. The following topics will be highlighted during the seminar:
Contact information: Petch Manopawitr World Conservation Union (IUCN) |
