🌏 Asia
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Image: Wikipedia
Meet the Animal
Irrawaddy dolphins have one of the most extraordinary relationships with humans in the animal kingdom. In Myanmar these dolphins voluntarily work with fishermen - slapping the water with their tails to herd fish into nets, and in return getting to eat some of the catch. This remarkable tradition has been passed down for generations.
Where in the World
Continent: Asia
Countries:
Habitat
Rivers, Estuaries, Coastal waters
Diet
Carnivore
Classification
- ↳Kingdom:Animalia
- ↳Class:Mammalia
- ↳Order:Artiodactyla
- ↳Family:Delphinidae
- ↳Common:Mammal / Dolphin
Appearance
Pale blue-grey to grey body, rounded forehead with no beak unlike most dolphins. Rounded flippers. Their blunt face gives them a friendly smiling appearance.
Size: 90-200 kg; 1.5-2.75 m long
Young Ones
Called Calf
Single calves are born and stay with their mother for 2 years. Groups help protect calves from threats.
Behaviour
Famous for cooperative fishing with humans - spitting water to direct fish into nets, a tradition in Myanmar documented for over a century. Live in small groups. Critically endangered in several river populations.
🎉 Fun Facts
Irrawaddy dolphins cooperate with fishermen to catch fish.
They spit water to herd fish toward fishing nets.
Their round face gives them a permanently cheerful expression.
Some populations live entirely in freshwater rivers.
The human-dolphin fishing tradition in Myanmar is over 100 years old.