IUCN – SSC Cetacean Specialist Group

Freshwater Dolphins

10 Jun 2015

Community focused research on the Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoise

A large-scale interview survey of fishing communities in geographic "hotspots" of the Critically Endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) was conducted in 2011-2012 along the main Yangtze channel and around Dongting and Poyang Lakes by the Zoological Society of London and the Institute of...

12 Sep 2014

Irrawaddy dolphins (Pesut) in Indonesia’s Mahakam River

At the chairman’s request, CSG member Danielle Kreb provided the following summary. One of the three Critically Endangered freshwater populations of Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris, inhabits the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Analysis of tissues samples from 8 individuals indicated that this population has two unique...

27 Jul 2014

Amazon dolphins as fish bait: Brazil introduces a moratorium on piracatinga fishing

After a decade of battles and warnings, the Brazil government has finally recognized the dire threat to Amazon river dolphin (boto) Inia geoffrensis populations posed by the ongoing illegal hunt to obtain fish bait. Both botos and caimans are hunted for bait to catch catfish...

03 Jul 2014

Update on Mekong and Ayeyarwady Irrawaddy dolphin conservation

With support of the CSG, further steps were taken recently toward the conservation of two of Asia’s three riverine populations of Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris: in the Mekong of Cambodia and Laos and in the Ayeyarwady of Myanmar. Mekong River Irrawaddy Dolphins The critically endangered Mekong River...

18 Jul 2013

Yangtze finless porpoise is listed as Critically Endangered

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), the world’s only freshwater porpoise, has been upgraded to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This follows the recent probable extinction of the other cetacean once found in China’s Yangtze River system, the Yangtze...

22 Feb 2013

Update on conservation of the critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins

The CSG has provided technical support to efforts to save the Mekong River's critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins – only about 85 remain in Cambodia and Laos. There is some good news – with new protection and research efforts. The entire current range of Irrawaddy dolphins in...

23 Oct 2011

24th October is Freshwater Dolphin Day!

The 24th October is International Freshwater Dolphin Day. Declared at the “Workshop on Establishing Protected Areas for Freshwater Cetaceans” in East Kalimantan, Indonesia in October 2009, International Freshwater Dolphin Day will be celebrated by many events across the world. In India, Ganges River dolphin awareness rallies...

10 Nov 2010

Release of Gangetic Dolphin Conservation Action Plan, India

The Prime Minister of India declared the Gangetic Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal of India on the 5th October, 2009 and it was formally notified on 10th May, 2010. A Conservation Action Plan for the Gangetic Dolphin was then prepared by a Working Group...

25 Oct 2010

Dams and River dolphins in the Brahmaputra River

A Letter of Concern was sent from the Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission to the Minister of Environment and Forests in India regarding the potential impacts of five large dams on the Endangered Gangetic dolphins in the Brahmaputra River Basin, India The Gangetic...

Freshwater Dolphins

Community focused research on the Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Irrawaddy dolphins (Pesut) in Indonesia’s Mahakam River

Amazon dolphins as fish bait: Brazil introduces a moratorium on piracatinga fishing

Update on Mekong and Ayeyarwady Irrawaddy dolphin conservation

Yangtze finless porpoise is listed as Critically Endangered

Update on conservation of the critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins

24th October is Freshwater Dolphin Day!

Release of Gangetic Dolphin Conservation Action Plan, India

Dams and River dolphins in the Brahmaputra River

5th Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium in Singapore

A global strategy to combat cetacean and other marine megafauna bycatch in the growing trade for fish maw (swim bladders)

The National Park and the Environmental Protection Area of Albardão: A New Outlook for the Franciscana and other Threatened Species in Brazil

Vaquita in the spotlight

🚨The Indianapolis Zoo Uproar Conservation Challenge presented by T-Fiber is here! 🚨

Gephyreus Project NewsLetter

HuDoNet releases Network Action Plan for the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin

Joint visual and acoustic survey finds vaquitas surviving and reproducing, mostly in and near the sanctuary

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IUCN – SSC Cetacean Specialist Group

LATEST UPDATES FROM BLUESKY

Latest Post

5th Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium in Singapore

A global strategy to combat cetacean and other marine megafauna bycatch in the growing trade for fish maw (swim bladders)

The National Park and the Environmental Protection Area of Albardão: A New Outlook for the Franciscana and other Threatened Species in Brazil