About MDCP

The Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project was initiated in January 2001 by James Cook University Australia, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries (DoF).

Aims

The aims of the Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project are to:

• Conduct essential research on the biological and social factors relevant to the conservation of the Mekong River Irrawaddy Dolphin population.

• Develop effective conservation and management initiatives for the long-term survival of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River (eg. community-based management, conservation areas, fishing restrictions).

• Develop effective management regulations and controls for dolphin-watching tourism in areas where dolphin-watching currently exists (eg. Kampi Pool, Kratie and Chiteal Pool, southern Lao) and other areas where dolphin watching tourism may be initiated in the future.

• Expand the public education and awareness program, in addition to conducting workshops and discussions with local communities regarding social factors influencing potential conservation strategies.

• Continue to build capacity amongst local government officials (particularly Department of Fisheries officials) and local individuals to conduct research and conservation activities on the Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin population, endangered riverine fauna and associated habitat.

• Continue to develop the stranding program to collect essential data on mortality rates and causes.

• Co-operate with rural development organizations to initiate community development and diversification of local livelihood projects, in villages situated near critical dolphin habitats.

MDCP Research

During boat surveys photo-identification was attempted on all dolphin groups sighted to establish minimum population size and movement patterns.

Interviews with local villagers were conducted over the length of the Kratie to Lao/Cambodian border river section, to establish local perceptions and beliefs regarding the dolphins and establish past and present distribution patterns

Land-based survey team overlooking Chroy Bantey Pool, Kratie

A stranding program has been established to retrieve all stranded and by-caught dolphin carcasses to establish mortality rates and causes.

Surveys by the Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project indicate that the total Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin population is small (probably no more than 170 individuals remain) and in danger of local extinction in the near future unless effective conservation measures are established and maintained. The current mortality rates (for example, at least 16 dolphins died during 2003) and total population size indicate that the Irrawaddy dolphin could completely disappear from the Mekong River basin in the next 10-15 years.

MDCP 2003 Outputs

Monthly reports: April – December 2003 (submitted to interested agencies)

• July 2003 progress report (Khmer and English)

• Essential baseline information on the abundance, distribution and status of the Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin population

• Collection of stranded carcasses and initiation of a stranding database for centralization of information at Kratie Fisheries Office

• MDCP office in co-operation with Kratie Fisheries Office

• Distribution of educational and awareness material (dolphin folklore poster and a children’s coloring book (San San the Mekong River Dolphin)

• Training and capacity building of three full-time staff (two Fisheries Department officials and one local staff) working with the MDCP

• One hour radio show with Mulup Baitong, Phnom Penh

• Submission of upgrade in IUCN Red-listing of the Mekong Dolphin Irrawaddy Dolphin sub-population to ‘Critically Endangered’, in association with the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group (see Appendix)

• Contribution of sighting data to designate Dolphin Protected Areas, within the proposed Royal Decree for Protection of Dolphins in Cambodia – prepared by the Cambodian Department of Fisheries and submitted to the Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries.

Location

The MDCP field work is currently focused in the Cambodian Mekong River and associated tributaries from Kratie: 12.24314 N, 105.83739 E to the Lao/Cambodian border: 13.93120 N, 105.92382 E. This includes the group of dolphins inhabiting southern Lao. This river section has been identified as the most critical habitat for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. This 190 km river stretch consists primarily of deep water pool/riffle habitats which are also essential to sedentary and migratory fish species, endangered riverine birds, otters and remnant populations of Siamese crocodiles that remain in the river.

Additional surveys have been undertaken throughout the Cambodian Mekong River, including south of Kratie to Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Great Lake and south of Phnom Penh to the Vietnamese border.

Future studies by the MDCP will encompass the Vietnamese Mekong River and Sekong River of southern Lao.