Only 3 Irawaddy Dolphins remain in Laos

The population of freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins in Laos has fallen to just three, bringing into question the species' survival in that country, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong. The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit a 118-mile stretch of the river between Cambodia and Lao PDR and are scarce—between 78 and 91 individuals were estimated to still exist, but that estimate has drastically fallen. These dolphins have a bulging forehead, short beak, and 12-19 teeth on each side of both jaws.