Rare Mekong River Dolphins May Become Extinct Because Of A Dam

A rare type of freshwater dolphin is the latest species to face extinction because of humans.

In a dire warning this week, the World Wildlife Fund said a new dam planned for Laos will throw the population of Mekong River dolphins into peril.

Irrawaddy dolphins, which are already considered critically endangered can be found in three rivers in southeast Asia. However, the largest population -- between 78 and 91 dolphins -- lives in the stretch of the Mekong River that runs through Laos and Cambodia. Construction of the Don Sahong dam, set to be installed in a channel upstream from the Irrawaddy dolphins' natural habitat, could hasten the extinction of the population.

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