Phnom Penh(VNA) - The population of Cambodia's critically endangered river dolphin isgrowing for the first time in decades, hailing a major turnaround for the freshwaterspecies.

The Irrawaddydolphins, known for their bulging foreheads and short beaks, once swam throughmuch of the Mekong River but in recent decades have been limited to a 190kmstretch from central Cambodia to its northern border with Laos.

The population hasbeen in steady decline since 1997 from 200 to 80 in 2015 due to habitat lossand destructive fishing practices. But a rise in new births and a decline indeaths have put the species on the path to recovery.

The number of Irrawaddydolphins has increased from 80 to 92 in the past two years, according to asurvey by Cambodian authorities and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which provesthat the species can be protected against extinction.

The turnaround wasattributed to the efforts of Cambodia’s conservation agencies and the WWFthrough such measures as increasing the work of river patrol teams and removingillegal gillnets - vertical mesh fishing nets that are left in the water forlong periods and can trap and drown dolphins.

Tourist boat operatorswere also hailed as a "secret ingredient" for their help in reportingpoaching and illegal gillnets to authorities.

However, Cambodian conservationistsand officials warn that significant threats remain, including illegal fishingpractices involving grenades, electronic gear and poisonous bait.

Cambodia considersthe Irrawaddy a "national treasure" and the country is committed to eliminatingall threats to the survival of this species.

Apart from Cambodia,Irrawaddy dolphins can be found in rivers and lakes in Myanmar, Indonesia,India and Thailand.-VNA