Irfan sanjaya Siregar - Dolphin Of Mahakam River

Nombre y apellidos: Irfan sanjaya Siregar

País: Indonesia

Redes sociales: lembayung senja studio

Título de la obra: Dolphin Of Mahakam River

Especie o elemento: A species of dolphin that lives in the Mahakam River

Leyenda: The Mahakam Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a freshwater population of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) that lives isolated in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan. This species is characterized by a round, beakless head, a small dorsal fin, and a bluish-gray body color. Unlike oceanic dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins have more flexible necks, allowing them to maneuver in narrow, winding rivers.

The Mahakam Irrawaddy dolphin population is extremely small—estimated at under 80 individuals—making it one of the most endangered river dolphin populations in the world. Its main threats include non-selective fishing, boat traffic, habitat degradation, and water pollution.

Categoría: Ilustración Naturalista

Técnicas utilizadas: painting and collage in photoshop (Mix digital workflow)

Inteligencia artificial: Sí. Yes, AI was used only for preliminary ideation. The final artwork is fully hand-rendered.

Tamaño: A4 size (210 x 297mm)

Año de creación: 2026

Descripción:

This illustration represents the Mahakam River dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), a critically endangered freshwater population of the Irrawaddy dolphin found exclusively in the Mahakam River, Indonesia. The artwork highlights key anatomical features used in scientific identification, including the rounded melon, absence of an elongated rostrum, small dorsal fin positioned posteriorly, and the streamlined body adapted to turbid, slow-moving river environments. The illustration is designed to communicate species morphology, ecological context, and conservation significance with clarity and accuracy for scientific and educational purposes.

The purpose of this illustration is to provide a clear and scientifically accurate visual representation of the Mahakam River dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), a critically endangered freshwater cetacean endemic to the Mahakam River in Indonesia. The illustration was created to support education, conservation awareness, and scientific communication, helping researchers, students, and the public understand the species' unique morphology, anatomical adaptations, and ecological significance.

This work was produced as an independent scientific illustration project, aimed at contributing visual material that can assist ongoing conservation discussions and biological documentation related to the declining Mahakam dolphin population.

First I saw photos of the Mahakam dolphins. I once went to the Mahakam River in Indonesia. Then I transferred the photography results to Photoshop, then started drawing neat lines, then added a creamy vintage background and I added several illustrations of trees from the collage system. For the fish and skeleton images, I used the layer mask technique. and a collage of several textures.