Mekong Dolphin Population in Cambodia Rises to 114, Officials Say

By: Son Minea/ Dy Bunnara

PHNOM PENH, Mar. 10, 2026 (KPT) — Conservation efforts in Cambodia’s Mekong River have helped boost the population of freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins to an estimated 114, with new calves recorded in recent months, provincial officials said Tuesday.

Kratie governor Va Thon said six calves were born in 2025 and two more at the start of 2026, bringing the population to its highest level in years.

Around 80 dolphins are believed to live in Kratie Province, where an 85 kilometre conservation zone has been established along the Mekong.

The remarks were made during a meeting of the Management Committee for the Conservation and Development of the Mekong River Dolphin Tourism Area, attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and WWF Cambodia.

Authorities said the protected zone includes 62 deep pools that serve as key habitats for dolphins and breeding fish.

During the dry season, dolphins gather in five main pools, including the popular Kampi Dolphin Pool, which attracts thousands of tourists annually.

Scientists estimated in 2020 that only about 89 adult dolphins remained in Cambodia’s stretch of the Mekong, underscoring the significance of the recent rise.