AKP Phnom Penh, March 26, 2025 --

A grueling four-day, 120-kilometre swim down the Mekong River, undertaken by a team from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has successfully generated over US$20,000 for the critical conservation of the river's endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population.

The campaign, which concluded on Mar. 20, 2025, aimed to raise awareness and vital funds for the protection of this iconic species.

The funds raised will be directly allocated to bolstering the Mekong River Guard Programme and supporting essential research and conservation initiatives. These efforts are crucial in combating the threats facing the Irrawaddy dolphins, including habitat degradation, entanglement in fishing gears, and illegal fishing practices.

The initiative garnered significant support from key stakeholders, including the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and provincial authorities in Stung Treng and Kratie. Local communities and partner organisations also played a pivotal role in the campaign's success.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the Koh Phdao and Koh Prumcharey ecotourism communities pledged their ongoing support for the protection of the Mekong River and its dolphin inhabitants. Provincial authorities reiterated their endorsement of such conservation endeavours, reinforcing the collective effort to safeguard this fragile ecosystem.

The Irrawaddy dolphin, a freshwater cetacean, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Mekong River population is particularly vulnerable, making conservation efforts paramount to its survival.

This campaign marks a significant step towards securing a future for these iconic creatures and preserving the ecological integrity of the Mekong River.

By K. Rithy Reak