Local News

Drastic decrease in dolphin numbers

Pollution, accidental death blamed for population decline

An Irrawaddy dolphin performs at Oasis Sea World, a private aquarium in Chanthaburi province. � Photo courtesy of The Department of Marine and Coastal Resource

Scientists have recently learned that Irrawaddy dolphins, native inhabitants of Southeast Asia�s rivers and coastal waters and northern Australian oceans, once helped drive fish into fishermen�s nets.

However, despite the fact the species is listed for protection by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the dolphin population has declined sharply, according to Chavalit Vidhayanond, who heads the Worldwide Fund for Nature�s marine and freshwater programme in Bangkok. Chavalit believes only about 300 dolphins inhabit Thailand�s shallow coasts as well as Songkhla Lake, while the number in the Mekong River has fallen from around 1,000 to no more than 150 in the last 20 years.

Songkhla Lake is one of the two lagoons in the world where the dolphins live. There, numbers have fallen from 100 to possibly no more than 10, Chavalit said. While the Irrawaddy is no longer a target for hunting, Chavalit said the number of dolphins was still falling  because they are often caught in fishing nets or die from pollution-related   causes

Crossword challenge announced

Seven thousand participants expected

Nestle KoKo Krunch, in association with Student Weekly, will host the 16th annual Nestle Koko Krunch Crossword Game Youth 2004 Princess Cup from November 20-21 at Central City, Bangna. The winners will receive trophies donated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as well as scholarships.

�Nestle Koko Krunch hosts this educational activity every year � it�s aimed at helping young people sharpen their English, Thai and math skills,� Siriporn Ruangthammakit of Nestle said. �We are expecting over 7,000 participants from schools nationwide this year.�

Amnuay Ploysangngam, Chairman of the Thailand Crossword Game, A-Math and Kumkom Association, said the competition will be classified into four categories covering the three educational subjects, with a total of 21 divisions for players ranging from primary level to adult level.

�The winners of each division will receive trophies, as well as souvenirs, scholarships and certificates. In addition, the best-performing schools in the primary and secondary divisions will also receive prime minister�s trophies.�

Applications are invited until November 12. For more information, call 02 681 9971-3.

Police seize captured canines

Doggy dishes still top the menu in Vietnam

Police seized more than 1,000 dogs, destined to be butchered and eaten in Vietnam, crammed inside three trucks in Northeastern Thailand on October 4.

The dogs, discovered in tiny cages, were about to be taken through Laos to Vietnam, according to police. Four men were arrested for illegal trading since they had no licence, according to Police Colonel Sunthorn Kongkraphan. If found guilty, the men will be fined but not jailed.

The discovery of the dogs in Sakon Nakhon province was the latest in a

series of regular dog seizures in Northeastern Thailand. Dog eating has come under fire in places like South Korea,

but has largely gone unquestioned in Vietnam. � AFP

Vocabulary

inhabitant (n): a person or an animal that lives in a particular place
decline (v): to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc.
lagoon (n): a lake of salt water that is separated from the sea by a reef or an area of rock or sand
pollution (n): substances that make air, water, soil, etc. dirty
trophy (n): an object such as silver cup that is given as a prize for winning a competition
sharpen (v): to become or make something better, more skilful, more effective, etc. than before
destined (adj): having a future which has been decided or planned at an earlier time, especially by fate
cram (v): to push or force somebody or something into a small space
guilty (adj): feeling ashamed because you have done something that you know is wrong or have not done something that you should have done