With a cone-shaped wooden stick made of Teak, a for Burma is typical of the type of wood, knocking Fischer Maung Lay on the boat’s edge, faster and faster, until a vibrating noise. With the guards eyes, he looks across the Irrawaddy river, the largest river in Burma, which runs from the North to the South and the main vein of the country. We are located to the North of Mandalay, Burma’s second largest city. Now the fisherman makes a cooing noise, almost like a dove, and strikes with the long paddle flat on the water surface.
a Few moments later, a light grey fin appears in the water, and disappears again: the Irrawaddy Dolphin. The Orcaella brevirostris can be up to 2.8 metres in length and 150 kilograms in weight. It is characterized by its round head. Both in rivers as well as in the shallow coastal waters it is found, especially in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and India. Or in the Irrawaddy river in Burma, from where it got its name.
The sound of the fisherman, has now attracted three more dolphins, and we can see you for a moment show up. Now Maung Lay is the Balance in the narrow fishing boat expertly holding, the throwing power of semi-over the shoulder ready to put the Ends in the Hand. He is waiting for the dolphins drive a school of Fish in the direction of the boat, while another Dolphin from the other side ensures that the fish will escape. The school of Fish is close enough, will hit the Dolphin with its tail fin on the surface of the water, as a sign that the fishermen can now cast his net. To pay the dolphins will those fish grab, which can avoid the net. A harmonious cooperation.
“The dolphins are very sensitive”, says the fisherman Maung Lay. Photo: Eva Hirschi
However, before it comes to that, tears suddenly, the rattling engine of a cargo ship, the idyllic silence. There is bamboo wood transported; past us pulling out it will leave black smoke. The dolphins have long since disappeared, we have lost sight of you. “The ever increasing traffic on the river makes our work more difficult,” says Maung Lay. Not only is this old, rusty freighter are a burden for the environment, they also interfere with the animals . “The dolphins are very sensitive. You don’t like the noise of the engines,” says the 55-year-old Burmese.
extinction
Maung Lays a concern threatened him in his face, the wrinkles drawing deep Furrows in his tanned face. Since he is a Teenager, he worked together with the dolphins, the craft he learned from his father. “Some of the dolphins I know even the name,” says the co-operative fishermen’s pride. However, the Irrawaddy Dolphin is threatened with extinction, not only interferes with the greater traffic also increased in recent years, the water pollution, what caused the fish population to shrink.
in Addition, electric fishing gear, and there is an (illegal) method, in which a battery in the water is left and all is located close to the animals by electric shock killed. While the government patrol, but whether this will help much, is questionable, to say the fishermen.
Perhaps, as you say, at least, could but Ecotourism will have a positive impact. Namely, when the growing interest of the population on the river would know that these animals are valuable and you must protect them, and the fishermen would keep encouraged, your traditional fish method.
tourism as an opportunity
This is also the goal of “Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project”, a new Social Business offering since September 2018 Dolphin watching tours. During one to three days, the comfortable and spacious boat on the Irrawaddy river, to increases in a small fishing boat and experienced first-hand how dolphins and people working together. Our Guide Chit Htoo Wai teaches us a lot about the Irrawaddy Dolphin.
Although there are already other providers of Dolphin tours, but in its day trips only ums Dolphin views. Such type of tourism can have, especially in terms of animal observations, as well as negative consequences. For example, if the boats go too close to the dolphins, you Intrusive consequences. “But we are not sure that we disturb the animals. Therefore, our tours not only dolphins, but getting to Know the everyday life here,” said Chit Htoo Wai.
Htun Wai does not want his children to learn sometime-to-be craft. Photo: Eva Hirschi
During a tour in one of the fishing villages we get such an insight into the passing of ox and free-range chickens, to look at the Weaving of bamboo hats, and visit the Buddhist monastery and be invited by the monk spontaneously to coffee and biscuits. We will spend the night on a sandy beach on the opposite shore, where three tepee-like tents are ready, with proper beds.
For dinner, there is then, of course, fish. Fresh roast, fished, and of the village residents in a pan with a little garlic and Oil it tastes the best. Compared with the earlier case of the fishing, today, however, much smaller, said Htun Wai. He also is a co-operative fishermen. Already at the age of 13, he accompanied his father, with the age of 16 he went fishing alone for the first Time. “The work has become harder in recent years, the relationship to the dolphins is less strong. But when I communicate with the dolphins, I am very happy. The best of the Moment, like if the Dolphin with its fin on the water and be my Signal,” says the 37-Year-old proud.
Whether he wants to teach his seven-year-old daughter and his four-year-old son, later on, once the cooperative fish and so the Tradition maintained? “No,” is his surprising answer. “I hope you can enjoy a good education and a good job in the city,” he says. Also, you should kill as a Buddhist actually, no animals, he adds thoughtfully. “No, I don’t want my children to be fishermen. I want you to have a better life.”
That we were witnesses of this dwindling Tradition ends, it touches us even more.
A contributor of travel content.
Created: 11.11.2019, 16:29 PM
