In a desperate bid against extinction, a prominent Thai influencer and veterinarian is spearheading a unique campaign to save one of the world's most critically endangered marine mammals. The fight is for the survival of the Irrawaddy dolphin, a species now reduced to a mere 14 individuals in the waters of Songkhla Lake, southern Thailand.
The Guardian of the Last 14
Dr Nantarika Chansue, a university professor and social media personality with a massive following, has become the unlikely guardian of these rare creatures. Her work transcends traditional conservation, leveraging her online influence to raise awareness and funds with an urgency dictated by plummeting numbers. The population has collapsed from 400 in the 1960s to just 14 today, a decline that signals a potential point of no return.
The challenges are multifaceted and severe. The dolphins face a gauntlet of threats in their freshwater habitat. Illegal fishing practices, particularly the use of destructive gear like gillnets and small-mesh traps, pose a lethal risk of entanglement. Furthermore, pollution from agricultural runoff and communities surrounding the lake degrades their environment, while decreased freshwater flow and sedimentation alter the ecosystem they depend on.
A Multi-Pronged Rescue Strategy
Dr Chansue's approach is hands-on and innovative. Her team has implemented a 24-hour monitoring programme using a network of drones and community volunteers to track the dolphins and deter illegal fishing. When animals are found injured or entangled, she leads risky rescue missions, a process documented and shared with her audience to highlight the dire reality.
Perhaps her most powerful tool is her social media platform. Through compelling videos and posts, she translates complex conservation science into emotionally resonant stories, rallying public support and directing donations to critical needs like veterinary care, equipment, and supporting local fishing communities to adopt safer practices.
The campaign also focuses on economic incentives for local fishermen, encouraging them to switch to dolphin-friendly gear and even participate in tourism initiatives centred on protecting the species, thereby aligning community welfare with conservation goals.
A Symbol of a Wider Crisis
The plight of the Songkhla Lake Irrawaddy dolphin is a stark microcosm of the global biodiversity crisis. Its potential extinction would represent not just the loss of a single species, but the collapse of an entire aquatic ecosystem. Dr Chansue's work underscores a modern truth: in the digital age, conservation requires both scientific rigour and the power of narrative to mobilise action.
The race is undeniably uphill. With such a tiny gene pool, the population is incredibly vulnerable to disease, pollution events, or further accidental deaths. Every individual saved is a monumental victory. The story of these 14 dolphins, and the influencer fighting for them, serves as a urgent call to attention for marine conservation efforts worldwide, demonstrating that the line between survival and oblivion is now vanishingly thin.
