In the glimmering horizon where sunlit waves meet the endless sky, a sleek silhouette arcs gracefully above the shores of Panay. It is an Irrawaddy dolphin or Orcaella brevirostris, a species of toothed dolphin found in the Indo-Pacific region. Characterized by their high foreheads, smaller snouts, and rounder bodies, these dolphins were first spotted in Palawan.
Philippines’ Regional Director of Earth Island Institute Asia-Pacific (EII-AP) Trixie Concepcion shares that no formal study on the status of the Irrawaddy dolphins was conducted until 2010, when they were sighted again along the shores of Iloilo and the Guimaras Strait. Beneath their joyful leaps and melodic clicks lies a silent urgency to protect not just a species, but an entire underwater ecosystem.
Intrinsic choices, intrinsic harms
The Irrawaddy dolphins were officially listed as a critically endangered species by the Department of Agriculture last year, following an amendment to Fisheries Administrative Order No. 208, series of 2001. This official recognition came several years after the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified them as endangered in 2017.
Despite EII-AP’s strong dedication to marine conservation, Concepcion admits that gaining traction has been a long and difficult process. It took two decades of persistent advocacy campaigns and research before the government formally recognized the Irrawaddy dolphin’s critical status. Adding to this unfortunate situation, their numbers continue to dwindle, with only about 77 individuals in Palawan as of 2023 and a mere 13 in Negros Occidental as of recent.
The reason for such an alarming state starts with their instincts. Their choice of habitat puts them in danger. Frequently living in coastal areas and rivers, the Irrawaddy dolphins are exposed to a range of hazards, including pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, boat collisions, and overall habitat degradation due to urban expansions.
Although the Irrawaddy dolphins are among the most studied critically endangered species in the country, their elusive nature and murky habitats greatly hinder scientists from conducting their studies. Despite living in close proximity to humans, they are not easily visible for observation. For instance, migrating from the deep waters, they often forage near shorelines of human settlements where contamination is prevalent.
What further exacerbates their precarious state is their slow gestation period, where females gestate for 12 to 14 months to give birth to a single offspring every two to three years. It is a biological characteristic that hampers their population recovery, as procreation takes longer than their average death rate of around one Irrawaddy dolphin per year.
Land politics hunts for the sea
The Irrawaddy dolphins face an even larger threat: the looming construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge. Originally slated to begin in the second quarter of this year, it has been pushed back to July 2026.
The project will cut through their habitats, endangering other wildlife-rich areas, such as the homes of Guimaras’ endangered dugongs and the Ramsar sites, or the wetlands of international importance.
According to Concepcion, the construction design already raises a violation, particularly with Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which details guidelines for the conservation and protection of wildlife species and their habitats. But apart from the legal disputes, the political landscape of the areas involved makes it difficult for scientists and environmental activists to raise their opposition over projects that are meant to detach critical habitats.
In rural settings where political dynasties dominate, environmental concerns are often overshadowed by the drive for infrastructure development and personal interests. During public consultations for the PGN Bridge, the EII-AP and other environmentalists were met with resistance and intimidation from local officials, revealing how these power imbalances can silence ecological advocacy.
Vanguards of nature
Despite this grim reality, Concepcion affirms their commitment to persistently advocating for the conservation of the dolphins. She and fellow conservationists are prepared for a long-haul fight, now focusing on raising public awareness through online campaigns, undisclosed legal action, and lobbying sympathetic lawmakers and agencies.
Effective conservation necessitates a coordinated and proactive strategy to restore the population of this endangered species. Beyond mere population monitoring, assessing and improving the habitat conditions of Irrawaddy dolphins is crucial, which involves regulating shipping traffic and mitigating pollution levels. While implementing seasonal fishing bans can significantly aid in habitat recovery, these measures impact the livelihoods of local fisherfolk.
Therefore, a comprehensive, government-led initiative is essential. This approach should integrate alternative livelihood programs and financial incentives to support the fisherfolk, ensuring their survival while simultaneously promoting the recovery of the dolphin population.
These dolphins are a national treasure and a symbol of our unique natural heritage, as this species is only found in a few Southeast Asian countries. This underscores a great environmental responsibility. As Concepcion puts it: “It’s going to be a very big loss if this species dies in our watch.”
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s June 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJune2025.
