Reproduction
There isn’t very much information identified about mating for this species of dolphin. It is believed that they don’t breed within their small groups though and will interact with other pods for this purpose. Mating is believed to occur any time from December to June. The males are believed to be very competitive so that they can mate with as many females as possible.
The amount of time it takes for the calf to be born can range from 9 to 14 months. It depends on the location according to what has been observed by the experts. The females will usually have one offspring every 3 years. The young will stay with them closely for 2 years and then be fully weaned. The young will be introduced to fish and other foods though around 6 months of age. The average lifespan in the wild is 28 years.
Conservation Status and Threats
At this point in time, The Irrawaddy Dolphin is classified as a vulnerable species. There are about 6,000 of them in the wild and some conservation efforts in place to help protect them. Around Thailand there have been noted declined numbers and hat is a huge concern. The mortality rate is often blamed on commercial fishing entities and they are often encouraged to use safer equipment. Fishermen are also encouraged to watch out for dolphins in their nets so that they can be released.
The loss of habitat due to dams, mining, and other efforts also seem to be a problem for this dolphin and survival. It can be tough though to get those types of events stopped in order to protect them. In the areas of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos it is illegal to hunt the Irrawaddy Dolphin. However, enforcing such laws has proven to be very difficult.
(source:google/http://www.dolphins-world.com/)
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