The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), known as Cambodia’s “living national treasure,” is a symbol of the Mekong River’s wealth of life. Generally revered by locals, this graceful creature represents good fortune and abundance. When the Irrawaddy dolphin thrives, so do the riverside communities and wildlife relying on the river.

Irrawaddy dolphins were once found in large spans of the Mekong River, including the Laos-Cambodia border, the Tonle Sap Great Lake and Vietnam’s delta region. However, their population and range declined greatly over the last several decades.  Today, dolphins are only found in a 120-km stretch of habitat, from the Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge in Stung Treng provincial town to Kratie town. WWF has named this place one of 35 priority conservation areas across the globe. 

However, the Mekong’s Irrawaddy dolphins are under threat. Based on WWF-Cambodia’s last population survey in 2020, approximately 89 adult Irrawaddy dolphins remain. There are only six extant species of river dolphins left across the world, and all of them are at risk. Most river dolphin populations are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and the Irrawaddy river dolphin is listed as critically endangered.

Hope is not lost – through dedicated conservation work and close collaborations with government partners, we are turning the tide for a better future. Together, we are addressing threats to ensure that people and dolphins can both thrive in the Mekong.

To secure a bright future for people and dolphins, WWF-Cambodia is working closely with Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Fisheries Administration, the Kratie and Stung Treng Provincial Administrations, NGO partners and community members. Since 2012, Irrawaddy dolphin habitat has been designated as the “Mekong Dolphin Protection and Management Zone,” where 72 river guards safeguard the population from threats. In July 2025, this habitat was officially designated as state land with the Ministry of Land Management – effectively granting a land title to the Mekong’s dolphins – in recognition of their cultural and biological value.

Our organization equips river guards with the training and equipment they need to successfully protect the Irrawaddy dolphin and its home.

We also educate communities on fishery laws and their importance to conservation to foster local support for dolphin protection. In our most recent campaign called the Mekong Dolphin Swim, seven people swam a 120-km relay through dolphin habitat to raise community awareness about conservation. The daring journey caught the attention of riverside villages, and community members pledged to protect dolphins from harmful threats like gillnets.

In addition, WWF-Cambodia projects like SCALE-UP 2 develop sustainable livelihood options in ecotourism, aquaculture, agroforestry and many more sectors for communities living in critical Mekong habitats. With more stable incomes, these communities can reduce dependence on overfishing and natural resource extraction.

At WWF-Cambodia, we never underestimate the power of what’s possible when we work together. Join us in protecting our most precious species today.