STORY: Cooperation with China crucial for protecting rare Mekong River dolphins: Cambodian official
DATELINE: July 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: Phnom Penh
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Khmer): PHAY SOMANY, Deputy director of fisheries conservation, Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
2. file: various of the Mekong River dolphins swimming in the Mekong River in Cambodia
3. file: various of tourists sightseeing dolphins in the Mekong River
4. aerial view of the Mekong River

STORYLINE:

A senior Cambodian official has said that cooperation with China is essential for helping protect critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins in Cambodia.

The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.

SOUNDBITE (Khmer): PHAY SOMANY, Deputy director of fisheries conservation, Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
"The Mekong River dolphins are considered as the national living treasure by the Cambodian government because dolphins have played an important role in attracting tourists.
In 2015, it was estimated that there were a total of 80 dolphins in the Mekong River and the number had recovered to 92 individuals in 2017, and in 2020, the number remained stable, with a total of 89 individuals.
Currently, we have good relations with China's Institute of Hydrobiology, an institute that has been researching and protecting the Yangtze finless porpoises living in the Yangtze River.
Experts from this institute have always provided us with technical support. For example, in the past years, they had given presentations on their experience and modern scientific research to our Cambodian experts.
The Freshwater Fisheries Research Center (FFRC) of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences has been supporting the Fisheries Administration in researching on dolphins and fish species along the Mekong River in Cambodia and this project has been carried out since 2020."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Phnom Penh.
(XHTV)