Climate

Six new calves offer hope amid ongoing threats to Cambodia’s Irrawaddy dolphins

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 13:09:24 UTC.

Briefings

Cambodia's Irrawaddy dolphin population increased to 118 individuals since six calves were born in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces in 2026. Conservation officials note these births indicate recovery potential if environmental threats like dams and electrofishing are reduced. The population remains far below late-1990s estimates of 200 due to habitat loss and fishing pressures. Key figures include 118 current individuals, 6 recent calves, and 160 dams affecting the Mekong. The article reports on these findings but does not provide future recovery forecasts.

Key points

• Cambodia's Irrawaddy dolphin population increased to 118 individuals since six calves were born in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces in 2026.
• The population remains far below late-1990s estimates of 200 individuals due to habitat loss and fishing pressures.

Context

Irrawaddy dolphins are sacred to Cambodian culture and generate ecotourism revenue. They are the sole cetaceans of the Mekong, with 118 individuals currently in Cambodia's section. Conservation efforts aim to curb dams and fishing threats to enable recovery.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to a single article from 2026 reporting on recent calf births and population estimates. No additional data on historical trends, future recovery forecasts, or specific dam locations is supplied.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 20/10/2026, 13:15:55 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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