Results from Abu Dhabi dolphin survey revealed

EAD used drones equipped with cameras to photograph dolphins off Abu Dhabi's coast

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently undertook the first vessel-based survey of dolphins in coastal waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as part of its new Dolphin Conservation Programme, which has the goal of monitoring the Emirate’s dolphin population and supporting their long-term conservation.

The survey identified two species; the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin, and the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin. In total, 77 bottlenose were recorded, of which 19 were calves, and 61 humpback, of which 10 were calves. The team also sighted two new born calves, which could indicate that dolphin calving season might occur late spring to early summer in Abu Dhabi.

The 15-day survey – which was conducted in partnership with the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in Spain – was carried out using a custom-made 45-foot boat fitted with an observation platform, and covered 2,000km of Abu Dhabi’s coastal waters, extending from Sila Peninsula in the west to the border of Dubai in east.

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Gangetic dolphin survey in Uttar Pradesh provides some good news

10% increase in Gangetic dolphins 

October 2012. WWF-India, in partnership with the State Forest Department of Uttar conducted a 3 day survey and awareness program in and around Uttar Pradesh to raise awareness about the Ganges River Dolphin. The survey, the total number of Gangetic dolphins in UP rose from 600 in 2005 to 671. In an earlier WWF-India report, the population of Gangetic dolphins in 1982 was estimated to be around 4000-5000 in India, but it is now less than 2000 with an annual mortality estimated to be at 130-160 animals.

The campaign involved the following activities:

A survey of the number of dolphins across approximately a 3000km stretch of the Ganges and its key tributaries (Yamuna, Son, Ken, Betwa, Ghagra, and Geruwa)

Awareness programs for local communities in and around the banks of the Ganga for the conservation of the aquatic mammal

Capacity building of stakeholders associated with the conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin

Ganges River Dolphin

The Ganges River Dolphin, one of the four freshwater dolphins of the world, commonly known as the "Susu" or "Soons" is an endemic fauna of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems. The Ganges river dolphin prefers to stay in the deep waters in and around the confluence of two or more rivers. 'Susu' shares its habitat with crocodiles, freshwater turtles and wetland birds many of which are fish eaters and are potential competitors with dolphins. Often known as the "Tiger of the Ganges" the river dolphin is an indicator animal, which has the same position in a river ecosystem as a tiger in a forest

The survey was carried out under the aegis of the HSBC- supported Rivers for Life, Life for Rivers program.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/gangetic-dolphin-survey.html