RP283 (Fisher) man's Best Friend

 RP283 (Fisher) man's Best Friend?

The sweet-faced Irrawaddy dolphin lives in small groups scattered throughout Southeast Asia. Sadly, these gentle creatures are critically endangered. The problem, as always, is human activity. Some fishers are mistakenly trapping dolphins in huge nets pulled behind their boats. Others are using electricity to fish, killing innocent dolphins in the process.

All of this is particularly sad because Irrawaddy dolphins have been helping humans for thousands of years. A fascinating cooperative relationship has formed between the dolphins and local traditional fishers. The dolphins help drive fish into the fisher's nets. In return, they' re rewarded with a portion of the catch. The practice used to be so common that it even came up in court. Fishers have gone to court to recover fish that they claim a rival's dolphin drove from their nets. Traditional fishers work with dolphins to this day, at least when they can find one. Traditional fishing is not the problem— it's industrial and commercial fishing that are threatening Irrawaddy dolphins.

Though Irrawaddy dolphins are oceanic dolphins, they can also survive in rivers. Generally, they prefer the water along coasts and river mouths, where fresh and salt water mix. Irrawaddy dolphins have round heads and very short noses. They are related to orcas, though they are smaller. They grow to about 2.5 meters long, and they're gray instead of black and white.

These unique creatures are critically endangered outside of Bangladesh and India. Populations in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Borneo, and the Philippines are estimated to be under 100. Their numbers have dropped due to threats from nets, boats, and dams. However, the dolphins are now recognized as a potential boon for tourism. Some dolphins have been captured and trained to perform in aquariums. Others are visited in their native habitat by tourists on boats. Their interesting behavior, including waving and spitting, is fun to watch. These animals can have a positive impact on the modern economy. That might just be the key to their survival.