New Population of Irrawaddy Dolphins Spotted along West Philippine Coastline

A pod of critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins has been spotted along the coastline of the West Philippine Sea by Mavic Matillano of the WWF Palawan team.

Locally known as Lampasut, these rare mammals were seen displaying typical behavior, foraging for prey around the lift net fish traps at a distance of one kilometer offshore.

Prior to this, the species have been documented in Malampaya Sound, as well as off the island of Panay by Dr. Louella Dolar.

Irrawaddy dolphins are very similar to the beluga in their appearance. They are the euryhaline species of oceanic dolphins and are able to adjust to a wide range of salinities.

Lightly colored all over, they have a blunt and rounded head and an indistinct beak. They have a short, blunt and triangular dorsal fin. These dolphins have the highest level of international protection, and trade of the species is banned. They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.

Reports according to the WWF state that these dolphins are spotted in discontinuous subpopulations near coasts and in estuaries and rivers, right from Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines.

These dolphins are not true river dolphins. Researchers call them oceanic dolphins that reside in salty water nears coasts, river mouths and in estuaries.