The inaugural year of funding, the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) Conservation Fund was able to fund $140,000 toward six projects in 12 countries.
2021 SMM Conservation Grant Recipients
Title: Harnessing local ecological knowledge to fill data gaps and support conservation of the Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin (Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Liberia, Senegal & Gambia).
PIs: Aristide Kamla Takoukan (& team)
Project Summary:
The Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin occurs in nearshore habitats along 7000km of coastline in Central and West Africa, a region heavily affected by human activities. While some
populations within the species’ 19 possible range countries have been studied with boat-based fieldwork and direct observations (e.g. Minton et al., 2022b), intensive boat-based surveys are expensive, and not practical in areas where the species’ presence has not yet been confirmed or in locations where only a few anecdotal records indicate that the species may be present. Furthermore, boat-based surveys and direct observation methods of the dolphins themselves provide only limited information on the threats dolphins may be facing from human activities in their habitats. By contrast, fishers and members of coastal communities possess valuable local ecological knowledge (LEK) about dolphins, their habitats, their interactions with fisheries, and other perceived threats from which scientists and managers can learn.
For these reasons the Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic humpback dolphin (CCAHD) identified interview surveys to assess LEK as a top priority in its 2020 assessment of Short and Medium-term Priorities for AHD Conservation. Subsequently, the project ‘Harnessing local
ecological knowledge to fill data gaps and support conservation of the Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin’ was developed with the aim of pairing international expertise in interview-based studies to document local ecological knowledge with developing scientists in six AHD range states: Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Cameroon, Gabon and Congo. The project was launched in 2022 through virtual meetings that resulted in the development of a harmonized questionnaire by LEK expert Dr. Samuel Turvey, affiliated with the Zoological Society of London. The draft questionnaire was tested and refined through pilot studies in three range countries and a series of online meetings with project partners. In 2023, the consolidated final questionnaire, project manual, and additional support materials were made available to all partners. Training on best practices in interview techniques and data collection using Kobo-Collect on smartphones or tablets was conducted online through Zoom meetings in English and French for 27 members of the teams from six countries.
Almost 800 interviews in 58 coastal fishing communities were conducted during the first eight months of 2023. Regular online meetings throughout the data collection and archiving stages of the projects allowed partners to share experiences focusing on challenges faced and solutions. By early 2024, all teams had completed fieldwork and had archived and ‘cleaned’ their data in preparation for analysis. Some teams undertook initial analysis of the data to identify the most salient results and trends, while other teams have made their data available for more centralized analysis. Each team compiled individual country reports (see Annexes 1-6), which in some cases provided information on AHD presence, relative abundance, bycatch hotspots, other threats, hunting prevalence, and cultural significance. In other cases, country reports focused on the process of the work that was conducted, and the collected raw data is still awaiting further analysis.
Find out more at:
African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO): https://www.ammco.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/ammco.org/ and https://twitter.com/AMMCO_SIREN
Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin (CCAHD): https://www.sousateuszii.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/sousateuszii and https://twitter.com/sousateuszii
Title: How many Amazon river dolphin species are there? “Capturing” genomic and morphological evidence to clarify the Inia’s taxonomy to help their conservation (Colombia, Brazil & Bolivia).
PIs: Susana Caballero Gaitan & Larissa Oliveira
Project Summary:
For almost four decades the number of species described for the genus Inia has been subject to controversy. For the past 30 years, researchers have published morphological and genetic evidence supporting at least three species with different distribution: the Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis), the Araguaian river dolphin (Inia araguaiaensis) and the Amazon river dolphin, Inia geoffrensis, the latest with two subspecies, the nominal subspecies for the Amazon basin and I. g. humboldtiana for the Orinoco Basin. However, the Society of Marine Mammalogy currently only accepts one species (Inia geoffrensis) with two subspecies, which hinders the conservation of species that face different types of threats. Some of the arguments against accepting different species include the occurrence of hybrid zones and the lack of unified criteria to describe these species. Therefore, we have proposed test the monophyly of the four putative lineages within the genus using museomics, as well as 3D morphometrics. Unfortunately, the museomics portion of this study was not successful, further sequencing of mitochondrial genomes from these samples will be done. The 3D morphological analysis of the skulls showed distinctiveness of four groups based on the size of the rostrum, the number of teeth, and the width of the braincase. Although morphometric data supports four species, the morphology analysis showed some overlapping points, probably due to hybridization between lineages, based on the location where the specimen was collected. Although, our molecular studies did not produce a complete rangewide phylogenetic and population level study of Inia, we find evidence for at least three lineages that, along with morphological differentiation, could be elevated to species level, I. humboldtiana, I. geoffrensis, and I. boliviensis. We unfortunately did not generate enough information from our museum specimens to adequately evaluate I. araguaiaensis genetically, but morphological analysis does show significant differentiation from the other lineages.
Title: Developing a necropsy program to determine the efficacy of reducing Mekong River dolphin mortality with a River Guard enforcement and outreach program (Cambodia)
PIs: Somay Phay, Eam Sam Un, Francis Gulland.
Project Summary:
The Mekong River dolphin population in Cambodia is critically endangered, with a population of under 100 individuals, high calf mortality and minimal recruitment. This project aimed to determine the causes of Mekong River dolphin (MRD) mortality, and to assess the efficacy of an established River Guard program to reduce deaths of these animals. The project counted and collected dolphin carcasses and performed necropsies to determine the causes of death of these animals. The River Guard program conducted patrols using local guards who reported the location of dolphins and illegal fishing activities, confiscated gear and enforced dolphin protection. River Guards are police, fisheries officers and representatives from local communities who are trained, equipped and employed to enforce the ban on gillnetting within areas of the river designated as MRD habitat. Local outreach to the community living along the Mekong in dolphin habitat was conducted by River Guards and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) staff to inform villagers of laws banning gill nets and electric fishing, and to describe the natural history and needs of the Mekong River dolphin and its history in Cambodia. The project was led and conducted by Sam Un Eam and the WWF MRD team in Kratie, Cambodia, with necropsy support from F. Gulland through remote training and one on-hands workshop in Kratie, Cambodia. The necropsy program detected three dolphins that were determined to have died from entanglement over 10 days at the end of December 2022. This spate of deaths resulted in considerable media coverage, and heightened awareness of the plight of the dolphins. In January 2023, the prime Minister of Cambodia ordered strict protection of permanent and seasonal protection zones where fishing is to be limited and laws enforced to protect dolphins. This significant order has allowed the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to revise the existing sub-decree on the Mekong River Dolphin Management and Protection Zone.
This project enabled the government officers and local WWF staff to identify entanglement as the cause of dolphin deaths, exposed inadequacies in the existing River Guard program, and increased legal protection for dolphins in the Mekong River.
Find out more: https://www.wwf.org.kh
Title: An integrated approach to the conservation of coastal cetaceans in the Gulf of Mottama, Myanmar
PIs: Wint Hte, Yin Yin Htay, and Tara Whitty.
Project Summary:
The Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab (MCCL) with the support of the Gulf of Mottama Project (GoMP) has played a key role in biodiversity monitoring and marine mammal conservation in the Gulf of Mottama, Myanmar. This region is home to threatened and endangered marine mammal species: the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), and the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis). The former is Critically endangered, and the other two species are Vulnerable (IUCN Red List). However, Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar, suffers from severe data shortages and conservation challenges due to extensive coastlines and logistical challenges. Despite their ecological significance, these species face severe threats from bycatch in small to large-scale fisheries, which poses a global threat to marine mammals and intersects with local livelihoods and governance.
The MCCL has implemented integrated approaches to conservation and research in the Gulf of Mottama (GoM). The goal is to fill data gaps and create a sustainable model for ongoing research, skill development, and community involvement in safeguarding small cetacean species. This included estimating the population of the three cetacean species in the gulf through boat-based line transect surveys, establishing an acoustic monitoring program for N. phocaenoides, estimating bycatch rates in small-scale fisheries through Rapid Bycatch Assessments, refining our understanding of the current and past distribution of these species in the Gulf of Mottama through Local Ecological Knowledge surveys, and training community youths in research and community engagement skills. Importantly, local communities actively participate in both research and conservation efforts throughout this comprehensive process.
Funding received in 2022-2024 from the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) allowed us to continue the series of boat-based surveys (this survey begun in 2018), local ecological knowledge and rapid bycatch assessment (LEK and RBA) interviews, and launched the first acoustic monitoring program for Indo-Pacific finless porpoises in the Gulf. The team successfully collected approximately 35 days of acoustic data across ten deployments, showcasing significant community engagement and providing hands-on experience with marine conservation technologies. In addition, funding from SMM supported 6 marine mammals stranding response trainings and nine marine mammal community campaigns in Mon and Bago regions, engaging a total of 846 participants from various demographics, including fishers and youth. Finally, SMM funding supported a capacity building program in which 14 MCCL youths were trained in marine mammal research and conservation. We highly appreciate the funding from SMM as it has filled in funding gaps in 4 important activities and allowed us to fully implement them.
Despite these accomplishments, challenges such as political instability, environmental threats, and logistical difficulties affected the project’s implementation. Nevertheless, the project has laid a foundation for future conservation work in the Gulf of Mottama by providing critical data, raising awareness, and building local expertise. Key recommendations for future conservation efforts include expanding research efforts, expanding training opportunities for local youths and community members to develop conservation and community engagement skills, and strengthening community-based monitoring and engagement initiatives to ensure the long-term success of marine mammal protection efforts. MCCL’s integrated approach exemplifies the potential for meaningful collaboration between local communities and conservation efforts, contributing significantly to the protection and understanding of endangered marine mammal species in the Gulf of Mottama. By encouraging community engagement and capacity building, MCCL is laying the groundwork for sustainable conservation practices that are vital for the preservation of these critical marine ecosystems.
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/MyanmarCoastalConservationLab/
Title: Veterinary capacity building to fill vital knowledge gaps for the endangered Indus River dolphins (Platanista minor) rescued from irrigation canals (Pakistan).
PIs: Forrest Gomez, Cynthia Smith, Massod Arshad, Gill Braulik, and Uzma Khan.
Project Summary:
The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is an endangered cetacean species listed on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of only about 2,000 individuals fragmented into six populations due to gated water infrastructure – barrages and habitat loss. These dolphins face severe threats from water extraction, entrapment, bycatch in fishing gear, and pollution. For over 20 years, dolphins have been trapped annually in irrigation canals, often resulting in death unless rescued. Existing rescue operations lacked veterinary personnel with aquatic mammal expertise who could leverage these opportunities to gather crucial species-specific data during ongoing rescues and translocations. Despite devastating flooding in 2022 that left one-third of Pakistan underwater and a resultant humanitarian crisis, we successfully met our objectives through 1) two in-country project efforts, one for project inception and stakeholder engagement and one for attendance at the 2023 rescue efforts in Sukkur, where we provided scientific and veterinary review and support and disseminated a veterinary kit for use during future rescue efforts; 2) rescue, health assessment, and necropsy training of local personnel, to include the identification and training of a Pakistani veterinary lead, Dr. Ziaullah Mughal, and a formal agreement with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan which aims to promote research and training in aquatic mammal medicine to increase the availability of trained experts for future rescue and translocation events; and 3) community outreach efforts to increase awareness surrounding the conservation of the Indus River dolphin through the support of ongoing community-based efforts, scientific and public presentations, a formal press release, social media posts, and traditional media. Our project culminated with the execution of The International River Dolphin Veterinary Health Assessment Workshop held in Valencia, Spain, and the Canary Islands in December 2023. Here, experts from NMMF, Oceanogràfic Valencia, and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria trained participants from Pakistan, Cambodia, Brazil, and Colombia through lectures, discussion, and hands-on training in rescue, translocation, live animal health assessments, and necropsy. This final workshop brought together river dolphin veterinarians from multiple countries, serving as a unifier and catalyst for broader veterinary collaboration, culminating in establishing a dedicated international river dolphin veterinary working group. In light of Brazil’s recent unusual mortality event, where over 300 river dolphins died from excessive heat and drought secondary to climate change, this collaborative initiative strengthens international veterinary capacity for river dolphin conservation at a critical time. Our veterinary working group is now formally integrated into SARDI (South American River Dolphin Initiative), and while we achieved our objectives and have made significant progress as part of this grant, future work remains essential. This initiative begins a comprehensive and sustained effort to enhance conservation actions for the Indus River dolphin through veterinary data gap-filling and support. Continued collaboration, targeted training and employment, and ongoing data collection and research are vital to understanding the health and the impact of anthropogenic stressors on this species. These efforts will aid our response to future crises, such as those in South America, and inform future mitigation and conservation strategies to ensure the long-term survival of this endangered species. The success has also motivated other river dolphin countries in Asia to realize the need to build veterinary capacity. We are grateful for generous support from the Society for Marine Mammalogy Conservation Fund, the Lever for Change Swift Grant, Dolphin Quest, Scott & Jessica McClintock Foundation, WWF Pakistan, and the NMMF Operace GRACE Conservation Medicine program for making this project possible. Oceanogràfic Valencia, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, YAQU PACHA e.V., Organization for the Conservation of Latin American Aquatic Mammals, and Nuremberg Zoo provided additional financial and logistical support for the veterinary training workshop.
Find out more:
https://www.wwfpak.org/our_work_/wildlife_2/indus_dolphin/
https://www.nmmf.org/marine-mammal/south-asian-river-dolphin/
Instagram: @nmmfoundation, @wwfpak, @cynthia_smith_dvm, @forrestgomez
Facebook: @nmmf.org, @WWFPak, @forrest.emorygomez
Title: Counting to protect: population estimation of a highly threatened subpopulation of river dolphin (genus Inia) in the Tocantins, the most impacted river by dams and land use changes in Brazil
PI: Miriam Marmontel
Project Summary:
The Tocantins River, part of the Brazilian Araguaia-Tocantins river basin, travels through 2,400 km of cerrado (Brazilian savanna), Amazon, and transition zones before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the north part of the country. One of the most important Brazilian rivers for water supply, irrigation, transportation, and hydropower potential, the Tocantins is also one of the most threatened, due to extensive habitat degradation, human occupation, sewage, mining, cattle ranching, agriculture, industry and urban development, road and hydroelectric dam construction. It is there that one of the most recently discovered cetacean taxa, the Araguaian boto (Inia araguaiaensis Hrbek et al. 2014), occurs. The species has not yet been recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy, but it is accepted and classified as Endangered by the Brazilian environmental authority.
For over a month in mid-2022 a team of researchers traveled over 2,000 km of the Tocantins River, from Abaetetuba (Pará state), close to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, to Minaçu (Goiás state), near its headwaters, including the reservoirs of seven hydroelectric dams that sever the river in eight stretches. Data was collected, using a distance sampling protocol in two stretches: up to the large Tucuruí Dam the survey was conducted on regional double-decker boat that accomodated the full team of seven observers; observations in all the other sections between dams were conducted by two observers only, onboard five different local, speed boats, due to geomorphological limitations. Data was recorded in a one-way independence approach. We used a mixed protocol of strip (parallel to the margin) and line transects (across the river channel). For each observation we recorded species, group size, presence of calves, radial distance from sighting and the vessel, radial angle, distance from dolphin groups to the margin, habitat type, associated margin, presence of human activities, weather and visibility conditions.
A total of 1,609 km was surveyed, resulting in 85 recorded sightings of Araguaian boto (Inia araguaiaensis) and 36 tucuxis (Sotalia sp). No calves were sighted; density estimates were derived for each surveyed segment, several with a value of 0. These data suggest that the population is small and potentially experiencing local extirpation in certain stretches. The high density of individuals recorded near the Tocantins-Araguaia confluence underscores the ecological significance of maintaining the Araguaia River as a Free-Flowing River. The considerable number of anthropogenic disturbances documented reflect the intense human pressure along the Tocantins River basin. The progressive degradation of fluvial habitats caused by the cascade development of hydroelectric dams may lead to reproductive isolation of the target taxon and habitat loss, especially in the upper Tocantins.
Based on the data, we estimate the total population of Araguaian boto in the Tocantins River not to exceed 1,000 individuals (including those located downstream of the Tucuruí dam). When considering Upstream Tucuruí Dam (i.e. “pure” Inia araguaiaensis with no influence of the hybrid zone downstream) the number could be less than 800.
Even though not yet recognized as a valid species by the Society for Marine Mammalogy and therefore not assessed by IUCN, the Araguaian boto deserves special attention given its limited distribution, estimated low numbers and the shear volume of threats affecting them. We addressed some of these data deficiencies, by estimating density of Araguaian boto along the whole Tocantins River main stem, and collecting accessory data along the expedition, and making a case for the implementation of a full assessment of the taxon.