Myanmar’s ‘smiling’ Irrawaddy dolphins on brink of extinction


An Irrawaddy river dolphin is seen jumping in the water near Mandalay, Myanmar.-AFP

Sin Kyun, Myanmar (AFP) Tears fill Maung Lay’s eyes as he describes losing the dolphin he knew since his childhood, the latest casualty of a battle against pollution and electrofishing that may see the species disappear in Myanmar.

Loved for generations for corralling the catch into fishermen’s nets, the‘smiling’ Irrawaddy dolphins are being killed in record numbers by rogue gangs who use car batteries to stun aquatic life.

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