CONSERVATION STATUS OF CETACEANS IN KIEN GIANG BIOSPHERE RESERVE, KIEN GIANG PROVINCE, VIETNAM A CASE STUDY TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES TO MARINE MAMMALS CONSERVATION Long Vu Vietnam marine mammal network
BACKGROUND INFORMATION First attempt to study conservation status cetacean in Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve (BR). à science-based guidance for future conservation efforts
MATERIALS AND METHODS Boat-based survey: Line transect survey + Photo ID Collecting data from whale temples Semi-structured interview
MATERIALS AND METHODS Total sea area of Kien Giang BR is 8,350 square kilometers Estimate 75 islands. Biggest island is Phu Quoc Isl à Resources limitation
MATERIALS AND METHODS Line-transect sampling: parallel line transect, constant spacing 4km, random starting point Collecting: species, group size, angle, distance Closing mode Local fishing boats as survey vessel à Logistical issue à Geographic challenges Survey area Survey effort (km) Survey effort (hours) Zone 1 232.5 35.78 Zone 2 268.1 32.7 =500.6 =68.48
PHOTO-ID METHOD Practice of Mark-recapture sampling Using photo photographs of the left and right sides of the dorsal fin and back to identify individual. Individuals will be identified based on the shape of the dorsal fin and scarring patterns acquired over time à Skill/Equipment challenge à Irrawaddy dolphin s behaviours+ their dorsal fin s size
COLLECTING DATA FROM WHALE TEMPLES
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW Semi-structured interview method List of 41 questions in 4 groups 33 interviewees from 4 local communities
RESULTS Boat-based survey Number of sightings: 6 on-effort sightings of 2 species 4 on-effort sightings of Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) and 2 on-effort sightings of Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
Water depth of Zone 1 2 4 6 8 10 6.36±0.264, n=65 Water depth of Zone 2 Irrawaddy dolphin (2012, 2013) Irrawaddy dolphin (2014) Finless porpoise 2 4 6 8 10 3.978±0.289, n=87
RESULTS Species Zone 1 Zone 2 O. brevirostris 6.881 1.118 Zone 1 N. phocaenoides 0.430 0.373 Zone 2
RESULT Photo-ID 412 photographs of Irrawaddy dolphins takenà 93 photographs (22.5%) were catalogued as Usable for identify individuals. In combination with 2460 photographs (of which 158 was catalogued as Usable ) of Irrawaddy we had acquired in 3 previous opportunistic surveys in Zone 1 Photo-graphic database Total 42 individuals is recognized Individual Ob31_ a easily distinguish Irrawaddy dolphin in KGBR
RESULT Photo-IDà population estimation MARK software, model M(o) Number of trapping occasions 4 Number of animals captured M(t+1) 42 Total number of captures, n 47 Estimated probability of capture, p-hat 0.0767 Population estimate 153 standard error 59.1627 CV 0.3866 Approximate 95 percent confidence interval 84 to 337 Profile likelihood interval 82 to 393
RESULT Whale-temples vs cetacean shrines vs cetacean graves
LOCATING WHALE TEMPLES
WHALE TEMPLE DATA/SPECIES RECORDED Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris):12 skulls +( 2 stranded carcasses) Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides): 10 skulls Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus ): 3 skulls Pygmy sperm-whale (Kogia breviceps): 1 skulls
CHALLENGE Large amount of data in whale temples, cetacean shrines and graves
CHALLENGE: CULTURAL ASPECTS
CHALLENGE: CULTURAL ASPECTS Reliable?? Sperm whale skeleton in Rach Gia city
Type of fishing gear responders using SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW RESULTS 12 Total 33 local fishermen were interviewed 5 Average age: 48 (28 to 65) Highest education background: high school Fishing zones cover all 7 zones of Kien Giang BR 3 Fishing 2 schedule: all around 2 year 2 7 5 2 4 5 Fishing gear: wide range of fishing gears and method Bottom trawl net Middle trawl net Driftnet Gillnet Fyke net Purse seine Hand-line fishing Crap-trap/ shrimp-trap Octopus-trap Mollusk cathcing gear others
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW RESULTS (CONT.) Encounter with cetacean in past five years: 100% responders 90% of responders have experience cetacean entangled in their fishing gears à By-catch Irrawaddy dolphin carcass encountered in transect
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW RESULTS (CONT.) From 2003 to 2011: Vietnam-Russian Joint Tropical Center had capture ~30 Irrawaddy dolphins and at least 1 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin? to train for circus performance Most of them dead. Now, only 3 Irrawaddy dolphins which locations are known (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkq7q4xravm&feature=youtu.be) Irrawaddy dolphin in Vinperland, Nha Trang city Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin?
SUMMARY First data on conservation status of cetaceans in Kien Giang More data/studies/collaborations are needed Confirm threats: By-catching and live capturing
SUMMARY Local challenges: Lacking of information Geographic/Logistical challenges Resources limitation Cultural aspects Global challenges: Transboundary studies Conservation of migration species
FUTURE PLAN Collecting more data: repeat, expanse, DNA in whale temple Further research needs: spatial distribution, habitat selection, population viability analysis (PVA) Different survey methodologies (acoustic survey) Education outreaches Establishing marine mammal stranding response network BIGGER PICTURE : Transboundary collaborations/studies Sharing data in the region
IN THE MEMORY OF DR. KANJANA ADULYANUKOSOL Insert Kanjana pics here
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