Meet Irrawaddy dolphins, the best friends of fishermen!
Dolphins are, without a doubt, one of the cutest creatures on the planet, aren’t they? They are sure to brighten anyone's day with their beautiful smile. Beluga whales have similar charms. So, imagine a species that looks like a cross between a dolphin and a beluga whale. What do you get? The Irrawaddy dolphin! Although related to orcas, a type of whale, the Irrawaddy dolphin resembles the beluga whale. If you wish to see one of them, they are found in freshwaters in Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
This charismatic beluga-lookalike dolphin is considered sacred by the Khmer (Cambodians) and Lao people, a Southeast Asian tribe. This is because the Irrawaddy dolphin contributes to the overall health of the Mekong River. Let’s find out more interesting facts about the cool and cute Irrawaddy dolphin.
They help the fishermen fish!
The Irrawaddy dolphins are not only charming but also useful! They are well-known as fisherman's best friends! It's because they assist them in fishing. How? Well, fishermen can call dolphins by tapping the sides of their boats! Dolphins instinctively drive groups of fish towards the shore, where they can be easily netted. It's believed that the fish's perplexing response to the net helps the dolphins because it makes feeding on the fish simpler even for them. This unusual bond between fishermen and dolphins has also turned into a source of revenue. Chit Htoo Wai and Paul Eshoo, famous wildlife conservationists, founded the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project in Myanmar to promote ecotourism through dolphin watching. They take tourists out on the water to see dolphins while also increasing their profits through fishing.
They are extremely social
Do you know that Irrawaddy dolphins can communicate? They use various clicking and buzzing calls to converse with each other. This also aids them in recognising one another. Isn't that smart? Their intelligence also allows them to easily navigate the river at night and in low-light conditions to detect their prey.
Additionally, these social dolphins are very playful creatures, known to roll sideways, blow bubbles, breach and leap from the water. They even wave and slap water with their tail and flippers, and pause at the water's surface. They are such happy creatures that they even tease large fish! They stun them with a blow from their lower jaw and then play with them. What delightful animals!
You can adopt one!
What can you do from the comfort of your home to help save these adorable dolphins? You can adopt one simply by buying a dolphin adoption kit from WWF, an international non-governmental organization! They spend your money to care for the dolphin you adopted. They also send photos of your dolphin, an adoption certificate, and soft toys. By doing this, you not only assist the dolphin but also contribute to the efforts to conserve wildlife worldwide.
They are endangered
The number of Irrawaddy dolphins in Myanmar has been cut down to half over the last 60 years. The species is currently classified as ‘endangered’. The main reason for the plight of these harmless creatures is entanglement in fishing nets and electric fishing. Fishermen are taking increasingly drastic measures, which inevitably results in more dolphin deaths. Although these are pressing concerns, the most serious issue is gillnets, which are curtains hung in the river. They lead to the unfortunate bycatch of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.
The tourists who come to see these dolphins also added to their distress. There is an increase in boat traffic with more tourists. This, in turn, shoots up water pollution and overcrowding in rivers. According to marine life conservatives, local communities should join forces with tourists and come up with a plan to reduce boat traffic.