This nostalgic scene belongs to the past – before the military coup in 2021.  Nowadays each time Aung San goes to the river, the dolphins come far less easily. The familiar, symbiotic rhythm of fishing with dolphins has changed.  Both fish and dolphins are fewer, and it is much harder for Aung San to sustain his family.  

He lives in the Irrawaddy Dolphin Protected Area No.1, located in Mattaya Township, Mandalay Region.  Over the past three years, he has witnessed intense fighting between the coup-led military and the People’s Defense Forces. Along the 350km stretch of the Irrawaddy River – from Mandalay to Katha in the Sagaing Region – this conflict has had significant impacts for people and wildlife.

Illegal electrofishing (using electric shocks in the water) and artillery shelling have dominated life over the past three years, and local residents report a resulting and tragic loss of dolphin life.  79 living dolphins were observed in 2020 a census conducted by conservation organizations and the Fisheries Department.  Due to the chaotic situation following the military coup, however, at least six Irrawaddy dolphins have reportedly died.

Boat operator Htein Lin, who navigates the Irrawaddy, shared that by mid-2023 he had personally seen four dolphin carcasses on the stretch between Mandalay and Katha, three of which were female.
“These were young dolphins, about seven or eight years old.  Some were badly decomposed, while others showed injuries or signs of electrocution,” he said. Dolphin observers and local residents say that although the current situation is difficult to analyze, they may have been killed by electrical shock fishing, gunfire, and artillery firing along the river. 

According to the records obtained by our journalist to back Ko Htein Lin’s observations, a dolphin was disfigured and killed near the village of Pay Thone Sal in Mattara Township on March 5, 2023. Another incident occurred in August 2023 near Nyaung-U. The latest one was found in the town of Kathar on January 12, 2024. 

Global Dolphins, Local Benefits

Irrawaddy dolphins are found not only in Myanmar but throughout the region in Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos, which are part of the Mekong Basin.  The dolphins’ name derives from the Irrawaddy River in Burma where they were first discovered.  Here, they are most well-known for their distinctive tradition of fishing alongside humans.  

“Our dolphins have lived and worked with us for generations, in an intangible cultural bond,” said Tayza, an environmental activist focused on river conservation.  “The fishers and dolphins have developed a cooperative relationship, each learning from the other and passing down these skills through generations, making the two inseparable.”

The dolphins’ fishing traditions were recognized by UNESCO in 2014 for the preliminary list of World Heritage Sites. The Irrawaddy River has been included in seven stunning Myanmar sites designated by UNESCO due to the presence of these Irrawaddy dolphins.  

Irrawaddy dolphins live about 30 years and, typically, a female gives birth to one calf annually, breastfeeding it for up to 18 months while caring for it for three years.

Conservation Efforts and Challenges

Irrawaddy dolphins are recognized as endangered, prompting efforts by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Fisheries Department, to collaborate in creating protected areas for their conservation.  In 2015, the 72-kilometre river stretch from Min Kun to Kyauk Myaung was designated as Protected Area No. 1.  In 2018, another 117-kilometre zone was added.  During these operations, the Fisheries Department and the Maritime Police undertook operations against electrofishing.

Before the 2021 coup, the Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Zone supported a thriving tourism industry, attracting approximately 1,000 international visitors each year.  This influx of tourists provided valuable income and job opportunities for young people, fishers, and local vendors.

“I used to run dolphin-watching trips two to three times daily, making a profit of 20,000 kyats after fuel costs, totalling around 500,000 kyats a month,” said boat operator Htein Lynn.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, conservation efforts persisted, with travel companies still working to protect dolphins despite the absence of tourists.  However, after the coup, tourism ceased, leaving conservation efforts struggling for survival.