Irrawaddy dolphin story book launched in Bacolod

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Advocacy groups on Friday launched a newly published book in Bacolod City, which aims to raise awareness among children on endangered dolphin species which considers the waters of Western Visayas as its home.

“Wady’s Epic Adventure to Save Home” written by Karl Ramirez, tells the journey of the titular character, described as a “courageous and tenacious Irrawaddy dolphin”, and his struggles to rescue his home and community from extinction.

The book hopes for a younger generation of readers to discover the significance of conserving marine life and environment through Wady’s perspective.

During the launch event, the marine wildlife and animal welfare advocacy group Earth Island Institute Asia-Pacific, which led the publication of the book, said called it a “opportunity to shed light on the challenges faced by Irrawaddy dolphins and to start important conversations about conservation efforts in the [Western Visayas] region.”

“We are excited to share Wady’s story with children and families across the region. This book is not only entertaining, but it also carries a powerful message about the importance of protecting our environment and the creatures that call it home,” said Earth Island Institute Regional Director Trixie Concepcion.

Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are an oceanic dolphin species known for their bulging forehead, short beaks, and an average between 12 to 19 on each side of both jaws, named after the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar, and closely resembles another species, the Australian snubfin dolphin.

Locally, they are found in the Iloilo and Guimaras straits, and are listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

A study by the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City released in 2018 indicated that there were only around 10 to 13 remaining dolphins in the region’s waters, less than the 21 identified by scientists in 2007.

USLS researchers in 2018, as well as the IUCN itself in August 2020, have expressed concern that the construction of the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project would threaten the species’ survival over time.