ID :
103338
Fri, 01/29/2010 - 12:06
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/103338
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Laos further protects Irrawaddy dolphins
VIENTIANE,28 JAN (KPL) -In collaboration with Japanese experts, the Livestock and Fishery Department has sent a team of experts to conduct an in-depth survey on the habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins and their population at the southern tip of the Mekong River in Laos.
The survey will pave a way to further implementing the Irrawaddy dolphin conservation living in the Mekong River, which stretches from Done Sahong Island and Hangsadam villages in Veunkharm area, Khong district, Champassak province.
The project has been conducted thanks to the new law on fishery that has been enforced since last year. This law is to involve more ethnic people living along Mekong River and tributaries in aquatic animal preservation campaign, especially the Irrawaddy dolphins (locally known as “Pa Kha”), which are on the brink of extinction in the country.
Director of the Livestock and Fishery Department, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang, said that this was the first protection project for the Irrawaddy dolphins helped by the Japanese government at a request of Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh during his visit to Japan in recent years.
“The Lao and Japanese experts are now surveying the real number of population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River between Done Sahong and Hangsadam in Veunkharm area,” Dr Bounkhouang said.
“From the previous information, there were around 60 Irrawaddy dolphins in Veunkharm,” he stated further. “They are usually spotted during February and March every year”.
The project will not only preserve Irrawaddy dolphins but also protect aquatic animals, especially water resource conservation along the Mekong River, Sekong and Sekhamane rivers.
The survey will pave a way to further implementing the Irrawaddy dolphin conservation living in the Mekong River, which stretches from Done Sahong Island and Hangsadam villages in Veunkharm area, Khong district, Champassak province.
The project has been conducted thanks to the new law on fishery that has been enforced since last year. This law is to involve more ethnic people living along Mekong River and tributaries in aquatic animal preservation campaign, especially the Irrawaddy dolphins (locally known as “Pa Kha”), which are on the brink of extinction in the country.
Director of the Livestock and Fishery Department, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang, said that this was the first protection project for the Irrawaddy dolphins helped by the Japanese government at a request of Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh during his visit to Japan in recent years.
“The Lao and Japanese experts are now surveying the real number of population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River between Done Sahong and Hangsadam in Veunkharm area,” Dr Bounkhouang said.
“From the previous information, there were around 60 Irrawaddy dolphins in Veunkharm,” he stated further. “They are usually spotted during February and March every year”.
The project will not only preserve Irrawaddy dolphins but also protect aquatic animals, especially water resource conservation along the Mekong River, Sekong and Sekhamane rivers.
