PHNOM PENH, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has registered nine newborn Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin calves with three deaths so far this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in a news release on Friday.
The latest newborn calf was spotted on Friday at the Kampi dolphin pool in Kratie province's Chetr Borei district by a team of researchers from the Fisheries Administration and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
"This newborn dolphin was sighted swimming alongside a pair of adult dolphins," the news release said. "It is the ninth dolphin calf born in 2024."
The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.
It is estimated that there are approximately 105 Irrawaddy dolphin population living along the 180-km main channel of the Mekong River in northeastern Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. ■