Ayeyawady dolphins’ protection zone to be extended
Source: The Global New Light Of Myanmar
Date: 30 January 2018
The Fisheries Department is planning to extend the dolphin protection zone along the Ayeyawady River to conserve the rare species more effectively.
Currently, the Ayeyawady dolphin protection area is 72 kilometres wide, extending from Mingun to Kyauk Muang in the Sagaing Region, as designated in 2005.
The department is planning to extend it by another 118 kilometres from Hti Kyauk in Katha District of the Sagaing Region to Shwegu in Bhamo District of Kachin State.
"We agreed at the meeting in Mandalay to establish a new protected area, which will extend for another 118 kilometres.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Group are cooperating with us," said U Myin Zin Htoo, Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department. According to the latest survey, there are some 68 dolphins in the protected area. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has been developing community-based tourism in six villages in the protected zone, in cooperation with the WCS and the ministry of agriculture, livestock and irrigation.—GNLM
