Fishermen discovered an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin dead in the Mekong River in Kratie province on Tuesday, officials said Wednesday. There were no obvious clues as to what caused the animal’s death.
Sean Kin, provincial director of fisheries administration, said the dolphin was discovered at about 9 a.m. in shallow water near the riverbank in Chet Borei district’s Thma Kre commune.
“It is a female dolphin that weighs about 50 kg and is 150 cm long. It was sent to the WWF [World Wide Fund] in Kratie province before 11 a.m. in order to find the cause [of death],” said Mr. Kin, who put the number of Irrawaddy dolphins left in the wild between 120 and 150.
WWF Cambodia director Chhit Sam Ath said the cause of death was still unknown Wednesday, but that autopsy results were due last night.
“It was floating in the river, so it is hard to conclude [why the dolphin died],” Mr. Sam Ath said.
Mr. Kin said four dolphins have been found dead this year, compared to three in 2013, and that most of the deaths are the result of the animals becoming entangled in fishing nets.
