May 13, 2026
PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction has registered a large swathe of land in Stung Treng province as part of the Kingdom’s Mekong River dolphin management area, a move expected to improve the effectiveness of dolphin conservation management.
In a May 11 statement, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that 10,873.35 hectares in Stung Treng has been permanently designated, describing the decision as “another important accomplishment in protecting Cambodia’s natural heritage”.
The ministry noted that close cooperation between its Fisheries Administration, sub-national administrations, relevant authorities, WWF and local river guards in protection and conservation efforts has contributed to a continuous increase in the dolphin population in recent years. The land registration is expected to strengthen the effectiveness of conservation area management.
It congratulated the land management ministry for its registration of the protected land. Maintaining a safe dolphin habitat, the ministry noted, is essential to ensuring that “the smile of the Mekong River” continues to exist for future generations.
In 2025, the land management ministry registered a 21,966-hectare Mekong River dolphin protection and management area in Kratie Province. As of early May, this year saw six new dolphin births. The sixth calf was spotted on April 27, in the Kampi dolphin pool in Chitr Borei district, Kratie province, bringing the total Cambodian river dolphin population to 118.