Mekong Dolphin Dies Entangled in Fishing Net, Setback for Conservation Efforts

A male Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin, estimated to be between 12 and 15 years old, has died after becoming entangled in fishing gear in Kandal province, Cambodia, the Fisheries Administration (FiA) has confirmed. The dolphin’s body was discovered on Friday, July 24, upstream of the Svay Chrum ferry crossing in Svay Chrum village, Svay commune, near Arey Ksat town. According to the Kandal Fisheries Administration Cantonment, the dolphin was identified as individual No. 18. It weighed 64 kilogrammes, measured 203 centimetres and was estimated to be 12 to 15 years old. An autopsy determined that the dolphin died after becoming entangled in fishing lines and a net. Tissue samples were collected for further scientific analysis and research by the conservation team. The death comes as a setback for conservationists, with no dolphin deaths recorded in the past year. The year had previously recorded encouraging signs for Cambodia’s endangered Mekong dolphin population. On April 27, a newborn dolphin calf was spotted in the Kampi dolphin pool in Sambok commune, Chitr Borei district, Kratie province, the sixth birth of the year. This brought the Kingdom’s Mekong dolphin population to 118 individuals, a figure that will now, sadly, be revised downwards. The Mekong dolphin is an endangered species, and its population has been declining. Bycatch from fishing activities is considered one of the most serious threats to the dolphins' survival. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced fisheries management and further protective measures for the dolphins.