From the broad flowing bends of the Mekong in Kratie to the coastal estuaries of Kampot, Cambodia’s dolphins — both riverine and oceanic — are making a gentle but significant return to the national consciousness. As 2025 unfolds, a wave of heart-warming news has emerged, casting light on the survival of these enigmatic creatures and the growing grassroots efforts to protect them.
In early February, the Mekong River gifted conservationists a rare and beautiful moment: the birth of the third Irrawaddy dolphin calf of the year in Kratie province. These freshwater dolphins, with their rounded heads and shy demeanour, are one of Cambodia’s most iconic and endangered species. Extinct in Laos since 2022, their continued presence in the deep pools near Kampi — north of Kratie — is a real blessing and numbers are at the highest they have been in over 20 years. Here, travellers can still quietly drift along the Mekong at dawn or dusk and witness them surfacing with the rising or falling sun.
But the good news isn’t confined to the Mekong.
Down south, in the breezy coastal waters of Kampot, another dolphin drama is unfolding — this one equally vital, and perhaps even more surprising. In the protected mangrove and seagrass ecosystems near Trapeang Ropov and Prek Tnaot, dolphins have been spotted with increasing frequency. Not only have Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins — commonly known as pink dolphins — been seen in healthy pods of 15 to 20 individuals, but new-borns have been confirmed, offering rare signs of breeding success in Cambodian marine waters.
In mid-2024, a new-born Irrawaddy dolphin was seen swimming with pink dolphins in Prek Tnaot, an unusual interspecies interaction – there are believed to be over 70 individual Pink Dolphins inhabiting the coastal waters of Kampot. That same year, Cambodia recorded its first sighting of a finless porpoise, though tragically, it was found dead after entanglement in fishing gear, highlighting the urgent need for stricter protections.
At the heart of these positive trends are Cambodia’s people — the local fishers, conservationists, and eco-guides who are working to protect their rivers and seas. In Kampot, organizations like Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) are mapping dolphin populations with sonar sensors and community-led surveys. In Kratie, villagers and boatmen quietly celebrate each new calf, knowing their future is tied to the health of the river.
Spotting dolphins near Kampot may sound alluring — and there’s certainly been a fair amount of buzz from some DMCs and voices within the travel industry — but the reality is far less predictable than the dream. While a handful of friends and colleagues living in the area have shared stories of rare sightings over the past year, these moments are fleeting, sporadic, and often occur in remote, less-visited corners of the coastline. The dolphins here — both Irrawaddy and Indo-Pacific humpback, sometimes called “pink dolphins” — are shy and elusive, weaving silently through the mangrove-lined estuaries and open coastal waters.
Unlike Kratie, where responsible dolphin-watching is well-established and guided by conservation protocols, Kampot currently lacks a structured tourism model to protect these vulnerable creatures. There are no designated viewing areas, trained eco-guides, or regulated boat operators — meaning unregulated excursions could do more harm than good. With ongoing threats from fishing gear and habitat degradation, local conservation groups are wisely putting protection before promotion. For now, the best way to support the region’s marine life is through thoughtful, low-impact eco-travel — not by seeking close encounters.
Kouprey offers new guided kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding experiences in the Trapeang Sangkae community, where locals work alongside the private sector to protect and share their environment. Visitors can explore endangered ecosystems and learn from the people who call this unique place home, in a more immersive and meaningful way.
