Mekong River dolphins at risk of extinction, WWF says

[rpannier]

Pollution in the Mekong River in Southeast Asia has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction, the World Wildlife Fund warned Wednesday.

The small freshwater dolphins, distinguished by their round heads and short dorsal fins, are already listed as a threatened species, the WWF said in a report.

But analysis of recent dolphin deaths shows their immune systems are suffering because of contaminants in the river, which flows through Cambodia and into southern Laos.

"These pollutants are widely distributed in the environment and so the source of this pollution may involve several countries through which the Mekong River flows," said Verne Dove, a veterinarian with WWF Cambodia who authored the report. "WWF Cambodia is currently investigating the source of the environmental contaminants."

link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/17/cambodia.dolphins/index.html

[billyoc]

1. Cute little guys. I actually thought they WENT extinct a couple of years ago.

Glad to see they're hangin' in there.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I think that was the Yangtze River dolphin ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_river_dolphin



... although they may be the same species.

I don't know.

Nevermind, they aren't the same species.

[obliviously]

3. The yangtze

have a salty flavor and more white meat.

[timeforpeace]

4. I'm laughing.

[obliviously]

6. That wasn't nice I like dolphins

I remember when I was a kid I would watch flipper from behind the chair because it was scary.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Yes, yes.. That is a baiji

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baiji