During the monsoon season in Cambodia, torrential downpours slash their way across lush landscapes. But on this September afternoon, the sky is clear as we head out on the Mekong River, full with murky water from the recent rains. Our guide, 75-year-old Sok Chea, is taking us to see the area’s famous but rare Irrawaddy dolphins—today, only about 100 individuals remain in the 2,700-mile-long river. After finding a group of them along the opposite river bank, Chea begins to tell the origin story of the dolphins. It is a folktale…
