Tom Levitt, MSN Environment editor

The rare Mekong river dolphin

The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin. (Image © Richard Vincent/WWF Greater Mekong)

MSN Environment takes a closer look at the plight of the Mekong river dolphin whose population has declined to less than 100 - the brink of extinction.

Pollution in the Mekong River in Cambodia and Loas has pushed the local population of river dolphins to the brink of extinction, according to a new report. Researchers from WWF found toxic levels of pesticides and environmental contaminants after studying dead dolphin calves.

"Analysis identified a bacterial disease as the cause of many of the calf deaths," says Rob Shore, WWF-UK freshwater programmes manager. "This disease would not be fatal unless the dolphin’s immune systems were suppressed, as they were in these cases, by environmental contaminants."

They also found high levels of mercury in some of the dead dolphins. Mercury, suspected to be from gold mining activities, directly affects the immune system making the animals more susceptible to infectious disease.

Find out more about the population and threats faced by the river dolphins that inhabitat the Mekong River in our gallery of rare photos of the mammal.

The rare Mekong river dolphin (click to enlarge)

Poor

Excellent

Your rating helps other users gauge the value of an article

Share It

... opens a new window

MORE ON MSN ENVIRONMENT

Chief welcomes Obama's presence

The UN's chief climate official has said that Barack Obama's presence at the forthcoming international talks on global warming would be "critical" after officials announced the US president would be attending the conference.

More rain threatens further damage
All eyes are on river levels in flood-hit Cumbria as more heavy rain threatens a vital bridge and further damage to homes.
Warming impact on Himalayas warning
The world must take note of the serious impacts of climate change on the Himalayas which provide water for millions of people in Asia - including three nuclear powers, a sherpa and leading environmentalist from Nepal have warned.
Warming health threat 'very real'
The impacts of climate change on health are a "very real and present danger", Health Secretary Andy Burnham has warned at the launch of a new report on how rising temperatures will affect the public.