Mekong River dolphins on verge of extinction, report says

[Coventina]

Source: Xinhua

PHNOM PENH, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The international conservation watchdog has released its report warning that pollution in the Mekong River has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction.

The report released Thursday said researchers had found toxic levels of pesticides such as DDT and environmental contaminants such as PCBs during the analysis of the dead dolphin calves.

"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," the World Wide Fund for Nature said.

Since 2003, the population has suffered 88 deaths of which more than 60 percent were calves under two weeks old. The latest population is estimated between 64 and 76 members living in habitats along a 190-kilometer stretch of the Mekong River between Cambodia and Laos, the report said.



Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/19/content_11568857.htm

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I don't usually post from Xinhua, but this story is important!

[Maestro]

1. It is disturbing, but important.

Many US rivers as well as important river systems worldwide should be wake-up calls for action. The extinction of this species is just one more that has been pushed to the brink due to pollution.

[jmondine]

2. This would be truly tragic

If they were wiped out.
Hopefully, we can preserve their genetic makeup... just in case.

[The Stranger]

3. At the far end of town where the grickle-grass grows . . .

[riverdeep]

4. I'm surprised ANYTHING can survive in China's rivers.

Time to join the list of other large animals we've either sent to their doom or about to. In twenty years, it'll just be 12 billion of us and some cockroaches.

[Chulanowa]

5. Well, it's just the local population in danger, in this case

The species itself is still around, though rare. Most individuals live in India and Bangladesh.

If the Mekong is ever cleaned up, they can be reintroduced - the Mekong population isn't likely to recover.