Mekong’s Irrawaddy dolphins find cautious hope amid a river in crisis
KAMPI, Cambodia — At nine in the morning, the sun beats down on the Mekong River as Heang Koeurn turns off the motor of his boat and bobs on the water. He has done this every morning for 11 years, and he still leans forward the same way when he waits: elbows on his knees, […]
KAMPI, Cambodia — Each morning at 9 a.m., boat driver Heang Koeurn sets off from the Kampi pool on the Mekong River, braving the intense midday sun. For 11 years, he has diligently scanned the water with his eyes fixed on the horizon, awaiting the presence of the Mekong's sole cetaceans: the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris).
When he spots the distinctive gray curves breaking the surface, Koeurn lowers his boat into the water, preparing to guide tourists in their search for the majestic creatures. "Irrawaddy dolphins are very important for our community," he explains, as a group of half a dozen foreign tourists disembark and eagerly point at the dolphins as they glide gracefully above the river's surface.
"People here can make more income from tourists by driving them to see the beauty of Irrawaddy dolphins."
However, the Mekong River, a vital lifeline for millions living in Southeast Asia, is currently grappling with an ecological crisis that poses a severe threat to the survival of the Irrawaddy dolphins and the very communities that rely on the river for their livelihoods and cultural traditions. As boat driver Heang Koeurn continues his daily ritual of taking tourists on dolphin sightseeing tours, the challenges facing the Mekong River and its irreplaceable inhabitants become increasingly apparent.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
