The Mekong Dolphins

For all the talk about saving the environment and climate change, humans are still destroying the environment at an incredible rate. The latest example is the near extinction of the Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.

The Mekong is the most important river in Southeast Asia and flow through Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and even parts of China. However the Mekong has become increasing polluted in recent years as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have become increasing developed in recent years. Unfortunately as is the case the world over, the more develop a country is, the more polluted the country is.

Even after been listed as critically endangered since 2004, toxic levels of pesticides, mercury and other pollutants in the Mekong had drastically cut the number of Irrawaddy dolphins that remain in the Mekong and it seems that its just a matter of time before the Irrawaddy join the pink dolphins of China on the extinct list of animals in the world.

So long Irrawaddy dolphins of the Mekong, you will be missed when you are gone.