Floating guard post to protect Irawaddy dolphins in Mekong
The Kratie provincial authority in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Cambodia) is preparing to build a guard post in the Anlong Kampi area of the Mekong River in Chitr Borei district’s Sambok commune to watch for illegal fishing activities that may affect the Irrawaddy dolphin conservation area.
Irrawaddy dolphins are a critically endangered species with less than one hundred thought to remain, according to the WWF-Cambodia. It is estimated that 90 per cent of Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins live within a 190km stretch of the river located in Cambodia and Laos.
WWF-Cambodia country director Seng Teak told The Post on February 4 that the establishment of a floating guard station would enable prompt intervention whenever illegal fishing occurs near the Anlong Kampi conservation area. He said the station be staffed around the clock, and guards will patrol a 25km area of the river to protect dolphins from fishing nets, shock devices and other threats.
Nov Sivutha
