THE Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society will cooperate in conducting the first three-day course in Mandalay in July for local tour guides who are bringing foreign clients to areas where Ayeyarwady dolphins congregate.

Ayeyarwady dolphins, one of only five species of freshwater dolphins in the world, are known for cooperating with local fishermen by herding fish into their nets in exchange for part of the catch.

In December 2005, the Department of Fisheries announced the establishment of a 72-kilometre protected zone for the animals in the Ayeyarwady River north of Mandalay.

U Han Win, the assistant head of the Environmental and Endangered Species Unit under the Department of Fisheries, said the course was aimed at educating local tour guides about the dos and don’ts of watching the dolphins, as well as about the practice of cooperative fishing.

“We will tell the guides about the dos and don’ts while they are watching the dolphins,” U Han Win said. “We’ll also explain how the dolphins spend their day depending on the season, as well as how to watch their cooperative fishing, such as following the dolphins from 10 metres behind instead of going in front or alongside them.”

U Aung Myo Chit, an official with the Wildlife Conservation Society, said they had had preliminary discussions with tour companies and agencies in Mandalay so as to be able to conduct the course before the next tour season.
He said six species of dolphins could be found off the coast of Myanmar and along the Ayeyarwady River. Of these, Ayeyarwady dolphins were the most endangered, and were on the brink of extinction.

“That’s why we’ve classified their conservation as priority number one. Our aim in opening this course is to prevent possible harm to the dolphins by tourists, and to promote better understand about them,” said U Aung Myo Chit.