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View all search resultsEmergency action planned to save Irrawaddy Dolphins in Mahakam River
“The government will take serious action, as the Mahakam Irrawaddy dolphin population has dropped to an alarming level,” said the ministry’s head of pollution control and environmental degradation Rasio Ridho Sani.
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An Irrawaddy dolphin breaches the water in this undated photo. Irrawaddy dolphins can be found in rivers, lakes and seas across southern Asia, from the northwest Bay of Bengal to the south of Indonesia. (AFP/File photo)
T
he Environment Ministry is planning to roll out emergency measures to prevent the extinction of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in East Kalimantan’s Mahakam river, where only around 66 of the dolphins are estimated to remain in the wild.
“The government will take serious action, as the Mahakam Irrawaddy dolphin population has dropped to an alarming level,” said the ministry’s head of pollution control and environmental degradation Rasio Ridho Sani on Sunday, as quoted by Antaranews.
Ridho added that the Environment Ministry has recently designated Muhuran village and Sabintulung village in Kutai Kartanegara regency, as conservation areas for the Mahakam Irrawaddy dolphin. The two villages have been officially named Mahakam Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Villages, following Pela village, which was previously established under the program.
The government is also developing a biodiversity credit mechanism, which would allow businesses to invest in environmental protection and habitat restoration. The initiative aims to fund conservation efforts that support sustainable development while benefiting local communities.
The Irrawaddy dolphin is a freshwater dolphin recognized by its blunt, rounded head, lack of a distinct beak and gray coloring. Found in fragmented populations across Southeast Asian rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal waters, the species is noted for its flexible neck, ability to spout water and occasional cooperative fishing with humans.
Listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Irrawaddy dolphin populations have declined by more than 50 percent over the past six decades.
In Indonesia, the species is found only in the Mahakam River, Kalimantan’s second-longest river, which stretches 980 kilometers and serves as a crucial transportation route for local communities.
