Title
Conservation status of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia
Author(s)
Vanny, L.;Smith, B.;Kong, K.
Published
2015
Publisher
Cambodian Journal of Natural History
Abstract
The Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) is among the most significant protected areas in Cambodia and most significant mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. An intensive four-day training course was held for a team of 12 local researchers on dolphin assessment techniques followed by surveys of these waters during 10 days in October and November 2013 and seven days in February 2014. Irrawaddy dolphins were found most frequently just off shore from the Prek Bak Khlong, Old Peam Krasop, and Lam Dam channel mouths as well as along the Northwest coast of Koh Kong Island in waters affected by freshwater outflow from the Trapeang Roung and Tatai Rivers. Although the overall number of Irrawaddy dolphin sightings was low, group sizes were high, ranging up to 19 individuals. Group sizes were almost double, and sightings much more frequent, while following opportunistic versus systematic transect lines, probably because the former took the survey team through the main channels linking inland waters and open seas, which are the preferred habitat of the species. The clumped distribution of the dolphins in the mouths of channels leading in and out of the mangrove forest offers key opportunities for conservation management in terms of taking a zoning approach to fisheries that threaten the dolphins (e.g. gill nets and possibly trawl fi sheries) due to accidental entanglements and for developing well-managed ecotourism focused on watching dolphins.

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PUB15753