From the Critically Endangered Mekong giant catfish navigating the Mekong River in Laos and Thailand to the elusive saola found in Vietnam's Annamite mountains, the Greater Mekong's mammals are rare and of global significance.

With once-plentiful species such as the tiger, elephant and rhinoceros now facing extinction, WWF is actively working to protect these animals through:
  • habitat conservation and preservation
  • supporting government action on the illegal wildlife trade
  • developing eco-tourism that provide communities with an economic incentive to preserve and conserve their natural heritage.

Wildlife of the Greater Mekong

Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is only found in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

© CK Wong

Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is only found in the ...

©

Pseudoryx nghetinhensis - Saola 4 to 5 month old female. An endemic mammal species that made this region well known on its diversity.

© David Harvey / WWF

Pseudoryx nghetinhensis - Saola 4 to 5 month old female. An endemic ...

Giant freshwater stingray or Freshwater whipray (Himantura chaophraya). The disk of this fish measured 202cm and 413cm from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. Himantura chaophraya may be the largest species of freshwater fish in the world. More species of giant fish occur in the Mekong River than in any other river on earth. Populations of the giant stingray and other large-bodied Mekong fish are in decline.Mekong River near the Cambodia/Vietnam border December 14, 2002

© Zeb Hogan / WWF

Giant freshwater stingray or Freshwater whipray (Himantura ...

This Irrawaddy dolphin was photographed swimming in the Mekong River when the WWF-Fisheries Administration's research team conducted photo-identification survey in March this year.

© WWF-Cambodia / Gerry Ryan

This Irrawaddy dolphin was photographed swimming in the Mekong ...

Wild Asian elephants in Kuiburi National Park, Thailand.

© Vipoj Sinprasert

Wild Asian elephants in Kuiburi National Park, Thailand.

TIGER

Indian tiger Captive Safari Park, Bangkok, Thailand. © WWF
The largest combined wild tiger habitat on Earth is found in the forests of the Greater Mekong region. Covering 540,000 km2, these forest habitats are priority areas for tiger conservation efforts. 

Today, around 200 tigers prowl the forests of the region, down from around 1,200 in 1998. 

WWF is taking action to ensure that wild tigers never go extinct in the Greater Mekong region.

► Find out more about tigers​
► Why should tigers be reintroduced to Cambodia?

A new species is discovered every 2 days on average in the Greater Mekong.

Find out more

This page lists the flagship species that WWF focuses on in the Greater Mekong.

► Also check out here other important species in the region

IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN

The critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin. © WWF
► Find out more about the Irrawaddy dolphin

ASIAN ELEPHANT

Asian elephant taking a bath in Xe Pian National Protected Area. © WWF
► Find out more about Asian elephants

MEKONG GIANT CATFISH

The Mekong River's giant catfish can reach a maximum size of 3m in length and 300kg in weight. © WWF
► Find out more about the Mekong giant catfish

SAOLA

Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) © WWF
► Find out more about the soala

CRESTED GIBBON

Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon, Nomascus gabriellae © WWF
► Find out more about the crested gibbon