Dolphin with a "Smiling Expression" Found Dead in a Pile of Trash... "Humanity's Responsibility"

Freshwater dolphins known for their distinctive expressions
Population has decreased by more than half over the past 20 years

The Irrawaddy dolphin, famous for its distinctive 'smiling expression,' has shocked many as a video surfaced showing it dying covered in a pile of trash.

Recently, the last moments of the deceased Irrawaddy dolphin were posted on the official social media account of the charity organization 'Karmagawa.' The photo was taken on the Toboali beach in Bangka Belitung province, Indonesia, showing the dolphin lying on a beach filled with plastic waste.

The image was captured by local resident Aiwan Padil. Padil expressed to the organization, "Who will take responsibility for this tragedy? Whose fault is it?" He added, "The dolphin population is critically endangered with very few individuals left. I hope this video serves as a lesson to everyone."

Irrawaddy dolphin [Image source=Instagram]

The organization also pointed out, "Such tragedies happen every day around the world, but many people do not want to think about how humanity should treat the Earth."

They further emphasized, "Humanity is irresponsibly and rapidly killing the Earth and wildlife. Plastic waste has accumulated in rivers and oceans, causing great suffering to marine life," and stressed, "We must recognize this and propose solutions to prevent innocent animals from dying."

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a freshwater dolphin belonging to the family Delphinidae. It is characterized by a rounded protruding forehead and a short snout, with the corners of its mouth turned upward, creating its distinctive 'smiling expression.' Because of its smiling face, it is also famously known as the 'smiling dolphin.'

The Irrawaddy dolphin mainly inhabits the Mekong River basin in Cambodia and is occasionally spotted in Myanmar and Indonesia. However, with the population drastically reduced, it is now threatened with extinction. Consequently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Irrawaddy dolphin as a 'critically endangered' species and has taken steps to protect it.

In the past, Irrawaddy dolphins were hunted in large numbers by whaling ships seeking whale oil. Recently, environmental pollution has become a threat to them. They sometimes die after getting caught in local fishermen's nets and traps, and also lose their lives due to illegal fishing activities.

According to Cambodian environmental authorities, about 200 Irrawaddy dolphins inhabited the Mekong River basin in 1997, but by 2020, the number had dropped to 89, a decline of more than half.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.