The Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin | Radio Free Asia (RFA)

Don't let their playful demeanor fool you. These dolphins lead a tough life. The Irawati dolphin is critically endangered, with a total population of only about 80 individuals. The mammals used to thrive in the coastal areas of South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers, the Mekong, the Irawati in Myanmar, and the Mahakam in Indonesia. But a dam building boom, along with industrial waste from factories, fertilizer runoff from farms, and other pollutants, has devastated their habitat. Unsustainable fishing practices are also a threat to Irawati dolphins. They're killed in electric nets, or accidentally caught in nets set up to catch other species of fish. The Irawati dolphin is distinct for its rounded head, blunt snout, long and broad flippers, and small triangular dorsal fin. Ecotourism may be the last, best hope for the Irawati dolphin. Money generated from tourists gives local residents an alternative to fishing, and villagers understand that saving the dolphins is the key to protecting their own livelihoods.