Irrawaddy Dolphins Are The Rarest Dolphin Species Discovered In Indonesian Waters!

The Irrawaddy dolphin, orcaella brevirostris, is a rare and intelligent species that lives in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady in Burma, the Mahakam in Indonesian Borneo, and the Mekong. It is found around the coasts of South and Southeast Asia. They may grow to lengths of 5.9 to 9 feet, weigh between 198 and 440 pounds, and inhabit various environments, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas.

In 2012, research led by WWF-Indonesia and the Regional Office for Marine, Coastal, and Resource Management Pontianak (BPSPL) led to the discovery of the Irrawaddy dolphin in West Kalimantan, a region of Indonesia’s Borneo island. The first results satisfied the researchers, who anticipated the investigation would provide further details regarding this unusual species’ population and geographic distribution.

The diversified biodiversity and lush rainforests of Kalimantan, home to unusual plants and animals, are well-known. Conservation scientist Albertus Tjiu, a pioneer in WWF-Irrawaddy Indonesia’s dolphin study, underlined the need to safeguard dolphin habitats beginning with the sources of rivers in Central Borneo. The study offers unequivocal proof of the richness of the waters off Kalimantan, and the researchers anticipate that it will result in more protection for dolphin habitats.

Irrawaddy dolphins have a low population of about 6,000 individuals globally, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making them vulnerable. At the same time, the remaining dolphins are spread out over Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia’s northeastern coast, where they are classed as [cri. Tic. Ally end. Ang. ered], most of them reside in Bangladesh’s coastal waters.

Irrawaddy dolphins are intriguing animals despite their frailty. They stand out from the crowd and take great pleasure in engaging in fun actions like spitting water in the faces of their pals and flashing their neck fat while swimming. We hope that conservation initiatives will assist these adorable critters to have better habitats and grow their number.