Pod of rare Irrawaddy dolphins spotted in Satun

Residents and visitors surprised and delighted at catching sight of dolphins frolicking in Tha Chin canal

Locals and tourists in Satun province on Monday were amazed by the sight of about 10 Irrawaddy dolphins swimming and leaping in the Tha Chin canal in Muang district, signifying the abundance of marine resources and ecosystem.

Songdecha Wanta, chief of Klong Khud subdistrict, said local fishermen and community members have been organising guided tours along the Tha Chin canal, which has been developed into an eco-tourism route.

He said that during a tour on Monday, visitors saw a pod of about 10 Irrawaddy dolphins swimming and leaping out of the water not far from their boats, without displaying any fear of people.

“The sighting of marine mammals signifies the abundance of marine resources and the ecosystem,” said Songdecha. “Irrawaddy dolphins normally flock to where the food sources are plentiful, meaning that marine resources in these areas are vital to their survival.”

The Tha Chin canal flows through the Tokuden Mountain in Satun’s Klong Khud area and creates a mangrove forest that is home to several coastal and marine species.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in scattered subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. It closely resembles the Australian snubfin dolphin, which was not described as a separate species until 2005.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is listed as an endangered species.

(2025/03/11-00:00)