湄公河的伊洛瓦底海豚数量录的增长

Irrawaddy Dolphin Numbers Increase on Mekong River

The number of Irrawaddy dolphins in one part of the Mekong River has increased for the first time tin 20 years.

The dolphins, however, still face serious threats to their survival¹. They are considered critically endangered marine² mammals in their native Southeast Asia.

The Cambodian government and a major wildlife group reported the population increase earlier this week.

Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released results of a 2017 count of freshwater dolphins along a 190-kilometer part of the Mekong. The survey area stretches from Kratie in Cambodia to the Khone Falls in Laos. Observers reported finding about 90 dolphins. That is a 15 percent increase over an estimate of 80 made in 2015.

The dolphins are found in only two other freshwater rivers: the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and the Mahakam River on the Indonesian part of Borneo Island.

Eng Cheasan is the director-general of Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration. He described the dolphins as a “living national treasure.” He added that efforts to save the rare animals would continue.

“We will continue our conservation efforts to rebuild its population by eliminating all threats to the survival of the species³,” he said.

Although the increase during the latest count is good news, the number reported in the Mekong is only half of the 200 found during the first population count in 1997. Surveys are carried out every two to three years.

Seng Teak is the WWF director for Cambodia. He told reporters in Phnom Penh that the dolphins still face threats from illegal fishing methods, increasing boat traffic and new dam projects.

He said the biggest threat for the marine mammals is to get caught in gillnets, large traps which are held in place through the use of floats and weights.

Seng Teak said several thousand meters of illegal fishing nets had been seized and many fishermen arrested.

The most recent survey showed hopeful signs for the long-term survival of the dolphins. More baby dolphins, called calves⁴, have been reported and deaths are down. The study found that 32 dolphins have been born in the area during the past three years.

Seng Teak said efforts by the WWF, the government, the tourism industries and local communities have made a difference.

“After years of hard work, we finally have reason to believe that these iconic dolphins can be protected against extinction,” he said.

The WWF says the dolphin is an important sign of the health of the Mekong River environment. Dolphin watching and ecotourism is an important business for communities on the river. Some people living in Cambodia and Laos consider the animals holy.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

marine –adj. having to do with the sea

mammal – n. a warm-blooded animals that provides milk to its young

conservation –n. describing activities related to the protection of plants, animals and natural resources

species –n. a specific kind of plant, animal or other life that is able to reproduce⁵ itself

eliminate – v. to end; to remove from consideration

survey –n. an activity involving gathering⁶ information, usually from people, about something

tourism –n. traveling to a place for pleasure, the industry of providing for people who do this

iconic –adj. something that is a symbol, or sign that represents something larger

1 survival   

n.留住生命，生存，残存，幸存者

参考例句：

• The doctor told my wife I had a fifty-fifty chance of survival.医生告诉我的妻子，说我活下去的可能性只有50%。
• The old man was a survival of a past age.这位老人是上一代的遗老。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

4 calves   

n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解

参考例句：

• a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
• The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reproduce   

v.生育，繁殖，复制，重做

参考例句：

• The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
• The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。