Photo-identification monitoring of the eastern Taiwan Strait population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis)

Principal Investigator: Wang

The overall objective of the present proposal is to continue a long-term, photo-identification monitoring project on the critically endangered eastern Taiwan Strait population of humpback dolphins (initiated in 2007) so that population trends can be examined while data needed for addressing other important information gaps can be increased. The immediate goal is to work towards more annual abundance estimates to determine if the trajectory of the population is declining, as has been suspected given the myriad of serious threats that exists to this critically endangered population. Ranging patterns, finer-scale distribution and some aspects of social structure will also be examined if data is sufficient.

The eastern Taiwan Strait population is the only known distinct and isolated population of humpback dolphins. any information that can be obtained from this population will be contributing not only to knowledge about the species but also to our knowledge about highly threatened populations of coastal small cetaceans. Specifically for this population, this study aims to determine its population trajectory for the first time as well as understand its ranging patterns, finer-scale distribution and some social behaviour, none of which have yet been examined.