Thai government urged to protect Irrawaddy Dolphins in Songkla Lake

Thai News Agency The Nation 25 May 12;

A Songkhla-based Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation club and concerned officials have urged government agencies to come up with proper conservation measures for the critically endangered species in the Songkhla Lake, Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

Uthai Yordchan, president of Ban Laem Hat Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Club, together with the Songkhla Farmers Council and its members submitted a letter to the agriculture and cooperatives minister and the natural resources and environment minister via Songklha Governor Grisada Boonrach.

The club called on the government agencies to enact measures to resolve problems related to the dying-out of the species in Songkhla Lake and to conserve the dolphins as well as urgently resolve fishing activities related to the netting of Mekong Giant Catfish in the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone in Songkhla Lake.

Irrawaddy dolphins are considered as one of the five most valuable natural resources and are equally valuable to residents of the Songkhla Lake Basin, the group explained.

In April and May this year, about seven Irrawaddy dolphins were found dead. They had been netted together with the Mekong Giant Catfish.

The remaining dolphins inhabiting Songkhla Lake were thus endangered and at high risk of extinction in the near future.

An estimated 30 Irrawaddy dolphins currently inhabit Songkhla Lake, according to Santi Ninwat, professional fisheries biologist at the Songkhla-based Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre.

Thai's Irrawaddy Dolphins At Risk Of Extinction
Bernama 25 May 12;

SONGKHLA, May 25 (Bernama) -- A Songkhla-based Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation club and concerned officials on Thursday urged relevant government agencies to determine proper conservation measures for the critically endangered dolphins in the Songkhla Lake.

Uthai Yordchan, president of Ban Laem Hat Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Club together with Songkhla Farmers Council members submitted a letter to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister and the Natural Resources and Environment Minister via Songklha Governor Grisada Boonrach.

The club called on government agencies to take steps to resolve risk factors related to the extinction of the dolphins in Songkhla Lake and to find ways to conserve the dolphins, Thai news agency reported.

Irrawaddy dolphins are considered a valuable natural resource among residents in the Songkhla Lake Basin, the group explained.

In April and May this year, local fishermen found seven dead dolphins in the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone in Songkhla Lake.

The club said that the remaining dolphins in Songkhla Lake are endangered and at high risk of extinction in the near future.

Santi Ninwat, a fisheries biologist at the Songkhla-based Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, said an estimated 30 Irrawaddy dolphins currently inhabit the Songkhla Lake.

-- BERNAMA