Net Dolphin
Net Dolphin
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Dolphins of the Mekong
15 kilometres north of the Mekong river town of Kratie is Karpi, home to the rare and endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. This stretch of river is one of the few locations in South East Asia where these river dolphins can be found! Authorities have estimated that the population of the Irrawaddy dolphin is less than one hundred and declining at a steady rate. While the dolphins are regarded as sacred by Cambodian river dwellers and are credited with increasing fish catches by driving fish into nets, they also suffer a reduction in their numbers by accidentally getting caught up in the fishing nets.
With this information in mind, I caught a motor cycle taxi from Kratie and enjoyed the relaxing ride passing through the countryside villages to the boat launching site. There the boat operators in their wooden long-tail boats took our group out to the deep water conservation zone established to protect the dolphin population. This zone established by the World Wildlife Fund and the Cambodian Department of Fisheries also serves to boost the ecotourism development of the area.
The Irrawaddy dolphins display completely different characteristics then dolphin species of the Pacific. One of the main characteristics is that by nature they are shy and rarely break the surface of the water. When they do break the surface it seems they are putting their heads out of the water to check their surroundings. This is in contrast to the more boisterous species which ride the bow waves of boats or join surfers riding waves into shore.
The skin colouring of the Mekong dolphins is a dark grey and blue colour which makes sighting them a bit more difficult. They also have more the rounded head appearance of a porpoise then the distinctive dolphin bill.
On the way back to shore the guide explained how both the locals and the dolphins need and other to survive. The boat operators and also the fishermen need the tourist dollars brought into this relatively poor area of the country and the dolphins require the guardianship to ensure their survival.
As I made my way back to Kratie by motor cycle taxi, passing the more adventurous tourists on by cycles, my thoughts were more on this balance between man and nature then that I had witnessed dolphins swimming in a fresh water river hundred of kilometres from the sea.
About the Author
Ibbertson is a keen traveller through South East Asia and through his website http://www.thecambodianadventure.com you can catch up on his adventure through Cambodia