Hope Along the Mekong: Protecting Dolphins and Connecting Communities

A collaborative partnership between the Cambodian government, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Cambodia) local communities, and the World Bank successfully protected endangered Mekong River dolphins during road construction, demonstrating how infrastructure development and wildlife protection can go hand in hand.

Story Highlights

• A World-Bank supported project to improve road connectivity in northern Cambodia took special measures to protect the unique and endangered Mekong River dolphins.
• Strong partnership between government agencies, WWF, local communities, and the Bank result in successful infrastructure development and wildlife protection during construction works.
• Local communities can now transport their produces to the market - and the dolphin population is rising.

The upgrade of Provincial Road No. 377, under the World Bank-financed​ Cambodia Road Connectivity Improvement Project (RCIP), was not just normal construction work - it's a model for collaboration. The project's success hinged not only on connecting people to markets, schools and hospitals across Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmom, and Kratie provinces, but also on protecting the region's precious environmental assets - a tiny population of Irrawaddy dolphins.

The dolphins in northern Cambodia are the last surviving Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. The small population has faced increasing threats in recent years.​ The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently release a statement stated that, as of November 2025, the number of dolphins is 111.

Road construction activities near dolphin habitats, particularly near a bridge at Chroy Banteay village in Kratie province, had the potential to disturb the animals and endanger their already fragile breeding patterns. Without careful planning, construction activities may risk degrading local ecosystems, affecting the dolphins' home.

Recognizing this, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the World Bank engaged with experts from the WWF-Cambodia and the construction company to ensure that construction works would not harm the aquatic mammals.

At WWF-Cambodia's riverside office in Kratie, Eam Sam Un, Mekong Flooded Forest Head of Landscape at WWF-Cambodia, explained how bridge and road construction sites were near a deep pool in the Mekong where the dolphins live. In the wet season, when river levels are higher, the dolphins migrate upstream from these deep pools, or move to tributaries like Prek Kampi, about a kilometer from the road and bridge site. "Because of this seasonal migration," he said, "WWF-Cambodia recommended building the bridge only during the dry season. We also called for installation of noise and vibration sensors to monitor noise impacts during the work, and for mitigation of any issues that arose."

Mr. Pheng Sovicheano, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Director of RCIP, details how the project brought government agencies, construction workers, and partners like the World Bank and WWF-Cambodia to assess and mitigate possible impacts on dolphins. "From the start of the project design, we paid very close attention to ensuring that construction would not affect the dolphins," he says.

His ministry consulted with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with local communities, and NGOs such as WWF-Cambodia on how best to move forward with both bridge construction and dolphin protection. After thick bedrock was found at the bridge site, the design of the bridge's pier foundations was changed to a spread footing - an engineering decision rooted in ecological sensitivity. "This reduced the noise and vibrations during foundation works," he explains.

Work on the road and bridge is now complete, and the infrastructure is expected to boost income from local agricultural production and allow farmers to access markets within the country and beyond. "The road serves three provinces with high potential for growing products such as rice, cassava, cashew nuts, bananas, and rubber," he says. "These crops create more jobs and boost incomes. The road will also attract more local and international tourists, who come to see the dolphins and historical temples and sites in northern Cambodia."

So what about dolphins? Eam Sam Un shares encouraging news: from 2024 through July 2025 up to completion of the construction works, seven calves have been born. This spate of newborns offers a rare glimpse of hope for the endangered population and stands as a testament to ongoing conservation efforts along the Mekong. "The dolphin population is increasing. It is a compelling signal that construction was managed well and did not disrupt their breeding behavior or overall wellbeing," said Sam Un.

Looking ahead, Eam Sam Un advises that any construction project proposed in or near dolphin sanctuaries could adopt a similar framework to minimize ecological impacts. "As I see it," he says, "this collaboration between WWF-Cambodia, government counterparts, and the World Bank offers a promising pathway to codify best practices, ensuring that construction planning, execution, and monitoring are tailored to protect dolphins and their habitats."

The partnership serves as a powerful example of how thoughtful collaboration, continuous monitoring, and adaptive strategies can yield positive outcome for both people and nature. By establishing a dynamic feedback loop-gathering real-time observations, integrating expert insights, and refining practices accordingly - the project offers a valuable blueprint and knowledge for future projects - where development and biodiversity can go hand in hand.