Abu Dhabi waters prove a haven for humpback dolphins
Survey highlighting largest population of Indian Ocean species stirs scientific interest worldwide
Asurvey has found that Abu Dhabi has the largest population of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. ‘Dolphin Survey’ conducted by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) estimated that 701 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins and 1,834 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins inhabit Abu Dhabi’s coastal waters.
The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin population in Abu Dhabi is the largest ever reported for this species in the world, said an EAD press release yesterday. The next largest population (466) is found in South Africa and other populations that have been estimated are typically very small — Mozambique (105), Kenya (104) and Tanzania (63).
Main threats
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary-General of EAD said: “Dolphins are apex predators that bio-accumulate marine toxins, consequently, they are good indicators of marine environmental quality. As very little was known about the ecology and conservation status of dolphin species in Abu Dhabi waters, EAD started a dolphin survey in 2014. This has provided population size estimates and information on the main threats, which is required as a basis for the assessment, monitoring and conservation of these charismatic species,” she said.
Dr Shaikha Al Daheri, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector of EAD, said the survey further established the international value of Abu Dhabi’s marine biodiversity.
Bruno Diaz Lopez, the chief biologist and Director of The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) in Spain, said the findings have evoked scientific interest worldwide. It has also given Abu Dhabi an opportunity to become a global reference for the conservation of coastal dolphins.
The results of EAD’s dolphin studies are published in the latest edition of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.