The Sacred Oceanic Dolphin

Dotting a pronounced forehead and short snub nose, the Irrawaddy dolphin is primarily found in estuaries, close to sea coasts and rivers in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Bay of Bengal. They are known to squirt water when herding fish. Accidental entanglement in fishing gear significantly affects the mortality of mammals that have a lifespan of around 30 years.

Lao and Khmer people native to Southeast Asia and Cambodia respectively consider the aquatic mammals sacred animals. Like many other dolphins, they are well-known for their friendliness. The fish species have two stomachs that store food and the other for digestion.