In the News: Mekong dolphins on brink of extinction The
population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River numbers
just 85 individuals and may be on the brink of extinction,
according to research by WWF. The researchers also found that
calf survival was very low and that the overall population is in
decline. A small population living on the border of Cambodia and
Lao People's Democratic Republic may be in an even more perilous
situation, with just 7 or 8 individuals. This is the only area
in Lao PDR where dolphins remain. WWF's research was based on
photographic identification of individual dolphins, using unique
marks on their dorsal fins to help produce a population
estimate. Although the current population estimate is slightly
higher than earlier estimates, the researchers note that more
data and more advanced analysis mean that previously
unidentified dolphins have now been included, and that the
dolphin population has not increased over recent years.
"Evidence is strong that very few young animals surv