PHNOM PENH – A team of conservationists has embarked on a grueling 120-kilometer swim through the Mekong River in a bold effort to raise funds for the conservation of Irrawaddy dolphins and protect the river’s fragile ecosystem.

The ‘Mekong Dolphin Swim’ campaign, which launched on March 17, takes participants through a designated dolphin sanctuary. Over four days, the team will swim from the Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge in Stung Treng province to Kratie province, braving strong currents and unpredictable river conditions before completing the challenge on March 20.

The initiative is spearheaded by five international conservationists, who are accompanied by river guards and staff from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), according to a WWF press release.

Beyond the physical feat, the team is collecting important data on Irrawaddy dolphin populations while also gathering samples of fishing gear found in the river.

Frances Gulland, chair of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, emphasized the vital role dolphins play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

“The mission is also to call for urgent action to ensure that future generations will see these creatures in the Mekong River,” she said.

The campaign has received full support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, which has been actively working on dolphin conservation efforts.

Agriculture Minister Tith Dina noted that Irrawaddy dolphin numbers have been gradually increasing over the past three years. He credited this progress to consistent conservation efforts and stronger enforcement of protective measures.

Funds raised from the event will directly support dolphin conservation programs, as well as river guards who regularly patrol the Mekong to monitor and safeguard its biodiversity. Some funds will also be allocated to scientific research and cross-sector collaboration between marine and freshwater dolphin conservation programs in Cambodia.

WWF-Cambodia’s country director, Chap Vibol, highlighted the importance of cooperation in ensuring the survival of the Irrawaddy dolphins.

“Protecting the dolphin population requires closer collaboration between conservationists, policymakers, and local communities,” he said.

The campaign is backed by the Dolphin Biology Research Institute of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program in the U.S., which has launched an international fundraising platform to enhance conservation efforts.

Organizers believe the campaign’s demanding nature will help raise public awareness and build momentum for initiatives aimed at securing the future of Cambodia’s dwindling dolphin population.

The event is co-led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Fisheries Administration, WWF-Cambodia, the Cambodian Rural Development Team, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, and Ocean Conservation Namibia.

The urgency of this conservation effort is underscored by the extinction of dolphins in Anlong Chhoeuteal, near the Cambodia-Laos border. Although the species was first declared extinct there in 2016, official records confirmed their disappearance in 2022.

The loss serves as a stark warning about the ongoing threats facing Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.