“With the population critically low and human-induced threats driving high mortality rates, we are working with all stakeholders to strengthen enforcement of existing legal instruments to prevent the extinction of this biodiversity icon of Kalimantan,” Director of Biodiversity Conservation, Inge Retnowati, said here on Friday.
The Mahakam dolphin is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and included in Appendix I of CITES, the highest level of protection under international regulations.
According to the Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia (RASI) Foundation, the dolphin population continues to decline due to various threats. Entanglement in gillnets accounts for about 67 percent of deaths, while industrial waste pollution and frequent collisions with coal barges in heavily used waterways add further risks.
To address these threats, the ministry emphasized three key strategies under Law No. 32/2009 on Environmental Protection and Management.
The first is safeguarding biodiversity principles by ensuring the existence, diversity, and sustainability of natural resources within an integrated ecosystem.
The second is mainstreaming sustainable development principles into regional policies and planning, including spatial and long-term development programs, to mitigate environmental risks.
The third is implementing concrete conservation programs, such as designating areas outside forests to preserve ecological functions and reduce human-induced damage.
“This comprehensive approach is expected to lower mortality rates and provide the Mahakam dolphin with a greater chance of survival in the coming years,” Retnowati added.
The freshwater dolphin found in the Mahakam River, known as Pesut Mahakam or Mahakam dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) or Irrawaddy dolphin, is the only freshwater dolphin species native to Indonesia and is classified as endangered.
This rare species is facing severe threats from water pollution, sedimentation, and heavy river traffic, which continue to endanger both its population and natural habitat.
Conservation efforts are ongoing to safeguard the species and ensure the survival of one of Kalimantan’s most distinctive river icons.
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Translator: Ahmad, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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