|
Until recently, Angola was
not known to be a range state for Atlantic humpback dolphins.
However, photographs and notes collected by an amateur naturalist during a
kayak trip along the Angolan coast in early 2004 confirmed their presence
off Namibe Province in southern Angola (Alex Vogel, pers. comm.).
Four sightings were observed between 29
January and 7 February 2004, comprising three sightings (each of four
animals) off Flamingos to the south of Namibe, and a single sighting of
two animals 2 km south of Flamingos (Weir, In Press).
Information
from local tour operators also indicates a regular presence of humpback
dolphins in the region, with at
least two groups found between Namibe and Flamingos, and a third pod off
Inamagando located 130 km north of Namibe (Bruce Bennett, pers. comm.).
Dolphins are typically observed in groups of four to six animals
(including calves), with sightings located in shallow water (<5m) over,
or in close proximity to, rock reefs (Bruce Bennett, pers. comm.).
The recent
confirmation of the occurrence of Atlantic humpback dolphins in Angola adds
a significant expansion to the previously confirmed geographic distribution
of this endemic and uncommon species. The species has been highlighted as a
research priority by the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group due to its low
abundance, restricted range and potential vulnerability to anthropogenic
impacts. Data are therefore urgently required on the population size and
structure, distribution and status of Atlantic humpback dolphins in all
of their range states, in order to assess and implement appropriate conservation and
management plans.
An ‘Angolan management stock’ of Atlantic humpback
dolphins has been proposed (Van Waerebeek et al., 2004), and the limited
sightings (of very small groups) off Angola to date suggest that this stock
is at low abundance.
However, prior to the survey work reported
here, there had
been almost no coastal survey effort in Angolan waters and the exact range
and ecology of the species in the region remained unknown. A survey of
humpback dolphins in Namibe Province was therefore planned for January 2008,
aimed at assessing their distribution, population size and behaviour.
A second survey during the austral winter in July 2008 should provide
comparative seasonal data.
|
|
 |
