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Slowly Dying of Irrawaddy River, Myanmar

Slowly Dying of Irrawaddy River, Myanmar

Myanmar

last update:

8 months ago

Problems

  • How the Ayeyawardi River is slowly dying

    Why should the Ayeyarwady river be considered an ecological hotspot?
    
    The Ayeyarwady (or Irrawaddy) river is Myanmar's largest river and most important waterway for trade, with a basin area of about 410,000 km². An essential channel of Myanmar, the river crosses its entire territory from north to south. Its headwaters and tributaries have rapids and carry their waters among the jungle, through deep gorges.
    
    If you look up the Irrawaddy river on the map, you will see that it runs through the center of Myanmar. Burma (the country's old name) is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean. It is a state unfamiliar to many people, as it was in forced isolation from all world civilizations for a long time. Today, the situation has changed for the better. The country is open to tourists from all over the world. This has also greatly affected the ecological condition of the Irrawaddy river.
    
    The map also shows that the Irrawaddy River is connected to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, which affects the condition of the river's water system as well. Massive plastic pollution of the river is causing terrible damage to the soil and food chains, the ecosystem of living things, and the local population.
    
    What are the causes of pollution in the Irrawaddy River? 
    
    Among the causes of pollution in the Irrawaddy River, the first place can be occupied by the peculiarities of the tides. The tides are quite high in the delta of the Irrawaddy River (in the lower reaches). They are sometimes as high as 4.5 meters near the city of Yangon. These straits are so strong that they cover the entire expanse of the vast delta, and they can be seen 120 kilometers from the sea.
    
    Due to the prevailing lowland character of the area, floods, quite catastrophic in their consequences, frequently occur here. In the middle belt of Myanmar, residents near the river store most of the waste on the banks of the river, in house yards and small backyards, which are illegal. The stored waste enters the river during the first floods. At higher tides, houses are carried away by the rivers and rice paddies are flooded with water. Chemical pollutants, pesticides, and rice waste also enter the Irrawaddy River along with food and waste.
    
    According to a regional study by Thant Myanmar, 119 tons of plastic enter the Ayeyarwady River every day. This happens not only because of the frequent tides but also because of the lack of control by the state over the disposal of plastic and other waste.
    
    What are the environmental consequences of pollution of the Ayeyarrawaddy River?
    
    As a result of pollution of the Ayeyarwady River, chemicals accumulate in the reservoirs where it flows into. Some of them are dissolved in the water, changing their composition, not for the better, and another part is deposited at the bottom, continuing to cause damage for a long time.
    
    The chemicals also affect the organisms in the Irrawaddy River, making them weaker and more vulnerable to disease. This is explained by the accumulation of harmful substances in the organisms of living beings. By the way, many of them are eaten by people, which is not good for human health.
    
    Another consequence of pollution is the blooming of water in rivers, which occurs due to the rapid growth of algae and the development of phytoplankton. This leads to a lack of oxygen in reservoirs and, consequently, to the mass death of living creatures (mainly fish).
    
    However, the Irrawaddy river has its peculiarities here as well. 
    There are special dolphins in the Ayeyarawaddy - the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). These are not true river dolphins, as they also live in the sea. Due to the accumulation of chemicals in the water, this rare dolphin species is on the verge of extinction.
    
    Waste decomposition products poison the water, making it uninhabitable. Ayeyarwady dolphins suffocate due to the lack of sufficient oxygen in the water and suffer chronic digestive disorders due to the high levels of pollution in the Irrawaddy River. 
    
    Local people and tourists can see dolphins approaching the shore and swimming in circles. This behavior is mistakenly seen as a joyful greeting to humans. However, for many dolphins, this behavior is a sign of psychological trauma. If dolphins wave and flap their tails in the water, it may signify that they are frightened. By slapping their tails in the water, dolphins try to ask people for help with all their might.
    
    Not everyone may know where the Ayeyarwady River is located on the map, but ignoring this environmental hotspot should not be permitted. The consequences of dumping waste into the Irrawaddy River, the poisoning of rare dolphins, the flooding of rice paddies, and the inaction of the authorities and the public could be dire, not only for the people of Myanmar but for the whole world as well.

Timelines

2019

September 23

A report by the Cambodian Fisheries Authority, the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, and WWF in 2019 highlighted the lack of commitment and coordination among governments in the region as a key challenge to protecting the dolphins. The report recommended that governments work together to enforce fishing regulations and establish protected areas, as well as promote sustainable fishing practices and provide alternative livelihoods for local communities who rely on fishing for their income.
The last Irrawaddy river dolphin in the transboundary basin between Cambodia and Laos became entangled in fishing gear and died, marking the extinction of the species in Laos.

Known only by its identification code, ID#35 was the last individual of a doomed subpopulation of freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins ( Orcaella brevirostris ). He was the sole inhabitant of a deep pool in the Mekong River that straddles the border between Cambodia and Laos and had been struggling for weeks with lacerations to his tail caused by entanglement in illegal fishing gear.

Authorities and conservationists say they are now determined to strengthen protection and raise public awareness of the dolphins' vulnerability to ensure the species' future in the Mekong.

2017

March 30

After more than two decades of steady decline, the population of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Mekong River has increased from 80 (in 2015) to 92 (in 2017), according to a joint announcement by the Cambodian government and World Wildlife Fund Cambodia.

This small population increase offers hope for the species, Think Seng, WWF Cambodia regional director, told Mongabay.

During the last survey, WWF researchers looked for dolphins in boats that slowly zigzagged from bank to bank to cover most of the river's surface, Seng said. When the researchers spotted dolphins, they stopped the boat and spent 30 to 120 minutes observing and photographing the animals. The team then analyzed these field observations and photographs and estimated that there were about 92 dolphins in the river (approximately 80 to 106 dolphins).

2016

August 12

In 2016, it was reported that the population of Ayeyarwady River dolphins had increased from 76 to 92 individuals over the previous five years, representing a significant improvement for the species. This increase was attributed to efforts by local communities and government agencies to protect the dolphins and their habitat, including the establishment of protected areas and the enforcement of fishing regulations.
However, the Ayeyarwady River dolphin remains endangered, with habitat loss, pollution, and accidental entanglement in fishing gear continuing to threaten their survival. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect this species and promote its recovery.

2012

June 15

In 2012, Cambodia established a dolphin protection zone in the Mekong River, which is home to critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. The zone covers 180 kilometers of dolphin habitat and is patrolled by a team of river guards.

As part of the conservation efforts, the Cambodian government also banned the use of gillnets in the dolphin protection zone, as these fishing nets can entangle and kill dolphins. However, despite these efforts, illegal fishing activities, including the use of gillnets, have continued in the area, particularly in neighboring Laotian waters.

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