Irrawaddy Dolphin Stories

Swimming through fresh waters in parts of South America and Asia is what one might consider an unexpected figure: the dolphin. It joins the ranks of the shark and the sea turtle as some of the oldest creatures on Earth. And while they're most commonly associated with oceans, dolphins—and porpoises—can actually be found in several major rivers on two continents.

WWF is advocating that energy investors replace plans for hydropower dams in Cambodia with large-scale solar farms, which are more environmentally friendly and quicker to build.

Many freshwater species depend on free-flowing rivers to complete their life cycles, and in some systems, those species make up critical parts of people’s diets. Here’s a look at five important species impacted by dams.