Fauna Journal Entry
Rare Dolphins Found in Bangladesh (April 27, 2009)
About 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins were discovered in Bangladesh. Government of Myanmar.
Scientists are thrilled about the discovery of nearly 6,000 rare Irrawaddy dolphins in Bangladesh waters recently. The discovery gives the marine mammals a huge boost. The dolphins, found only in scattered pockets in Asia, are struggling to avoid extinction in most of their habitat.
The dolphins were found in the Sundarbans mangrove forest near the Bay of Bengal. But the Wildlife Conservation Society warns the population faces threats from fishing nets and climate change. The organization says a strong plan to protect the dolphins needs to be a top priority.
Irrawaddy dolphins are found only in rivers, estuaries, and lagoons of South and Southeast Asia. Before the new discovery in Bangladesh, there were only about 7,000 counted worldwide, with over 90 percent in the the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh and India. Smaller populations are found in Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Thailand. Irrawaddy populations outside of Bangladesh and India are classified as critically endangered.
The dolphin is related to the orca or killer whale, but more closely resembles the belug whale. The round-headed mammal grows to lengths of eight feet.
