Dolphin Monitoring
Kimberley Inshore Dolphin Monitoring
A pod of Australian Snubfin Dolphins in Roebuck Bay. © 2009 Deb Thiele. Press to enlarge.
The Australian Snubfin Dolphin, Orcaella heinsohni, has recently been recognized as a separate species from the Irrawaddy dolphin, O. brevirostris. They are a small cetacean species inhabiting the shallow coastal waters, rivers and estuaries of northern Australia, but very little is known about their abundance and distribution. Orcaella populations are in decline throughout much of their range in coastal Asia due to a suite of threats.
Threats
A RECENT EXPANSION in human activities targeting the Kimberley’s rich resources, remoteness and grandeur has resulted in intrusions into dolphin habitat with commercial fishing; coastal boat based ecotourism; recreational line and net fishing; illegal Indonesian fishing; oil and gas developments and extensive marine (pearl) farming.
Identifying habitat and status
IN A JOINT program with WWF-Australia and the Kimberley Land Council, the Kimberley Coast Inshore Dolphin Project aims to combine scientific research and real community participation to identify important habitat and determine the conservation status of Orcaella using marine surveys, land based tracking and a community sighting network.
The program involves intensive research, training in marine wildlife monitoring for Indigenous rangers and knowledge sharing across all of the varied communities within the Kimberley.
Surveying other dolphin species
IN ADDITION, we are gathering the same information for the two other nearshore dolphin species in the Kimberley: the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin and the Bottlenose Dolphin and other marine wildlife species. This information will help to raise awareness of the nature and importance of protecting Kimberley ecosystems for the future.
Engaging the community
Sample of Kimberley Inshore Dolphin ID card. © 2009 Deborah Thiele. Press to enlarge.
A COMMUNITY sighting network has been operating since 2005 around Broome. Photographs and records of sightings sent in from members of the community have been critical in tracking individual dolphins in Roebuck Bay. For example, photographs sent in by John and Jacqui Rushford have been combined with the research team photo identification catalogue allowing us to track one individual snubfin dolphin over a four year period. This sort of information is very important in building up a picture of how the dolphins use the bay, where they feed, their health, the incidence of injuries and the social dynamics and movements of these animals.
Anyone with a pen and paper and a camera can contribute in this way. So if you are out and about in coastal or estuarine waters from Cape Londonderry to Broome or in the Cambridge Gulf area, we would like you to participate in the sighting network.
Reporting observations
Contact Deborah Thiele for a dolphin identification card and send the following information when you sight Snubfin, Bottlenose or Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins:
- Where you have seen them (lat, long or distance from known landmark)
- Date, time of sighting
- Number of animals seen
- Any additional information from your observations e.g. colour of animals, behaviour, calves present
- Photographs or video are very helpful. PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE DETAILS and email or post to:
Dr Deborah Thiele
Marequus Pty Ltd
PO Box 8194, Broome WA 6725
debthiele@bigpond.com
Or visit www.kimberleydolphins.com