Precious dolphins appear in Kien Giang

A population of Irrawaddy dolphins with about 20 individuals has been recorded in the waters around Ba Lua Islands, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve.

>>> TheMekong river dolphins are extinct

According to the research team of the Center for Biodiversity and Development, Institute of Tropical Biology (Institute of Science and Technology of Vietnam), although there is no official data on the number of Irrawaddy dolphins in the area recently recorded but with about 20 individuals being relatively large, as studies in the Malamyapa Strait as well as in the Mekong River, only small groups of about 7-10 individuals were recorded.

Irrawaddy dolphins appear in the waters around Ba Lua archipelago
Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve. (Photo of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology)

In Vietnam, so far there is very little information about this marine mammal. In the Vietnam Red Book, there is no mention of Irrawaddy Dolphin due to lack of information on status and distribution area. Currently, the Center for Biodiversity and Development is working hard to cooperate with national and international conservation organizations to find appropriate solutions to effectively preserve the recently recorded dolphin population.

The Irrawaddy dolphin has the scientific name of Orcaella brevirotis , commonly known by another famous name, river dolphin . This species has five populations living in different water bodies including 3 populations living in rivers, 1 living in the coastal lake and 1 population in the Strait of Malampaya (Philippines). The World Conservation Organization (IUCN) has classified this species as an endangered species (Vulnareble).