It is not known what the total population of Irrawaddy dolphins is though they are endangered throughout their range. Irrawaddys can spit spouts of water at the surface and we think this might make it easier for help them to catch fish by confusing them and it could also be a social behaviour. They sometimes spyhop, tail slap, body rub, or roll to one side while waving a flipper, and they only occasionally leap. They are slow swimmers and avoid boats they do not bow-ride, and generally dive when frightened. Irrawaddy dolphins are found in small groups of six or fewer, but up to 25 have been known to gather in deep pools to fish. What’s life like for an Irrawaddy dolphin? The dorsal fin is small their flippers are long and large, with curved leading edges and rounded tips, their tails are also large. They are grey all over but lighter on the belly. Irrawaddys have expressive faces thanks to their moveable lips and have creases around their necks as they are able to move their heads in all directions.
Remember that maintaining the biodiversity of the earth protects us as well as the many species of plants and animals that we know and love.The Irrawaddy dolphin has an instantly recognisable, charismatic rounded face and head with no beak they look like baby belugas, only with a dorsal fin. You can also adopt other animals, such as polar bears or elephants, but to help the Irrawaddy Dolphin I suggest adopting a dolphin.
There are several adoption kit options, but you can receive items such as a dolphin stuffed animal, an adoption certificate, a photo of a dolphin, a gift bag, and more. So how can you make sure this adorable species of dolphins doesn’t go extinct? You can continue educating your peers and family about the importance of biodiversity for one, but you can also adopt a dolphin with World Wildlife! By buying a dolphin adoption kit, you are supporting World Wildlife’s conservation efforts and helping to save endangered species. It serves as a link between conservation and tourism. Ecotourism educates tourists on these dolphins, as well as local culture and other nature. The ADPA is one of Myanmar’s official strategic ecotourism pilot sites which is a part of the Myanmar Ecotourism Policy and Management Strategy. The 74 kilometer-long Ayeyawady Dolphin Protected Area (ADPA) reduces electric fishing, gill nets, pollution, and boat traffic, which all contribute to protecting these dolphins. It is also a source of income for communities who participate in dolphin-watching ecotourism and is regarded as a sacred animal by the people of Khmer and Laos.Įcotourism, which is tourism directed towards threatened environments, protects these dolphins. The Irrawaddy Dolphin is important because it contributes to the overall health of the Mekong River. Fishing nets are responsible for major population declines in this species because more dolphins are dying in these nets than are being born every year. Frequently, they are accidentally caught in small-scale fishing nets that are meant to catch other organisms and killed, making them bycatch. These dolphins are endangered due to pollution, captivity, habitat loss, and most of all fishing nets. This is one of the best examples of symbiosis between man and nature. The dolphins eat some of the fish that have become confused by the net after it’s pulled up.
After the fishermen throw the net, the dolphins create turbulence by diving deeply into the water. The dolphins then swim in semicircles and herd the fish towards the fishermen.
Fishermen tap the sides of their boats to let the dolphins know that they are ready to fish. This is a phenomenon that occurs nowhere else in the world. In Myanmar, the Irrawaddy Dolphin has learned to participate in “cooperative fishing” with the fishermen in the area. These dolphins are generalist eaters, consuming everything from benthic prey to octopuses. This species of dolphins live for around thirty to fifty years, and they travel in groups of two to fourteen other dolphins. These dolphins inhabit the coastal areas of South and Southeast Asia as well as isolated freshwater habitats such as the Ayeyarwady, Mahakam, and Mekong rivers. An ancient Chinese text from AD 800 even referred to them as “river pigs”. The Irrawaddy Dolphin is a charismatic-looking beluga-like dolphin with a rounded face.