THE
IRRAWADDY
DOLPHIN

Distribution

Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit sheltered coastal waters throughout Southeast Asia, including estuaries, mangroves, and deltas. In addition to their coastal presence, they have five distinct freshwater populations in Myanmar, Borneo, the Mekong River in Laos and Cambodia, India, and Thailand. Although not classified as true river dolphins, these populations exist hundreds of miles inland, far from coastal waters.

Behaviour & Ecology

Irrawaddy dolphins are typically seen in small groups of 2-3, though larger groups of up to 15 individuals can occasionally be spotted. Their diet includes fish, shrimp, and cephalopods, which they hunt in shallow waters. While social, they are not very active at the surface but may occasionally low breach. A unique behavior involves spitting water, possibly to confuse schools of fish. In Myanmar, these dolphins engage in cooperative fishing with local fishermen, herding fish toward boats and picking off weaker individuals caught around the nets before they are retrieved.

Fun Facts

The Irrawaddy dolphin is named after the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar, which was formerly known as the Irrawaddy River during the time when Myanmar was called Burma.

In the Sundarbans mangrove forest Irrawaddy Dolphins occupy the same habitat of ganges river dolphins

Coastal Cambodian populations occupy the same space as indo-pacific humpback dolphin and indo pacific

finless porpoise

Laotian and Cambodian folklore suggests Irrawaddy Dolphins to be reincarnations of their ancestors

West Kalimantan people share stories of Irrawaddy Dolphins being naughty children that stole rice from the shaman, but they burnt their mouths and jumped into the river to cool down but eventually turned into Irrawaddy Dolphins

Main Threats

Irrawaddy dolphins face multiple threats, primarily due to habitat loss and human activities. Damming has isolated freshwater populations, confining them to smaller areas and reducing hunting opportunities, leaving them with only 40% of their original range. Coastal populations are similarly affected, as reduced water flow impacts estuaries and mangroves. Bycatch in small-scale gillnets is arguably the greatest threat, causing premature deaths that continue to rise annually. Irrawaddy dolphins are also targeted for captivity due to their ease of capture, though international trade was banned under CITES in 2004. Pollution further endangers them, with industrial and domestic waste contaminating both freshwater and coastal habitats, leading to skin abnormalities in six populations.

Find out mor about the Irrawaddy Dolphin

The Irrawaddy River Population

Prefer deeper areas of lakes and large rivers.
Less than 100 individuals left
The population and range of the dolphins has declined greatly in the last 39 years

IUCN STATUS:

The Irrawaddy Marine Population

Marine Dolphin populations inhabit coastal areas, particularly muddy and brackish waters,
Unknown population size (ongoing research by Khmer Ocean Life)
Population threatened by human activities like Bycatch

IUCN STATUS:

THE IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN

THE
IRRAWADDY
DOLPHIN