Entries by Nicola Hodgins

Posted on behalf of Kila, WDCS Canine Research Assistant

"Joint Warrior" - those 2 words meant only one thing, we were heading to our research station on the remote north-west coast of Scotland to keep eyes and ears (and noses!) on the going's on in the Minch. Twice a year, NATO allies get together off the coast of north-west Scotland for training purposes, or war games as they are more aptly known, and the humans at WDCS have been concerned over the cumulative impacts that these "games" are having on the whales, dolphins and porpoises that also use these waters. "Cumulative" because they've been playing these games for over 50 years now, with technology progressing at an alarming rate! To the uninformed, the oceans most likely look like peaceful, calm and tranquil places (except in cases of storms which i'll get to in a minute!!), people go to the beach, or out on the water to escape the hubbub of city life, to escape the unrelenting noise that is a constant part of most of our daily lives … although it has to be said, we dogs are masters at ignoring said noise and just sleeping our way through it … when in reality the oceans are some of the noisiest places on the planet! Sound travels further, there are few laws pertaining to how "loud" you can be underwater and when it comes to the effects that these "noises" are having … well that's a conundrum that we're only just beginning to understand.

And so back to those storms i mentioned earlier …!! We knew ahead of time that we were in for some pretty dicey weather (it is Scotland in April after all!) and the forecast wasn't looking good but we opted for wishful thinking and decided to sit it out all the same. It was raining when we arrived at our lodgings … 5 days later it was still raining, the only difference being that the wind had continued to get stronger and stronger by the day and we were in the midst of what could only be described as "a bit of a gale"! This of course had implications for both the humans ability to spot any of those flittered critters, and our ability to track down the white woolly creatures otherwise known as sheep … you know they're there, you just can't quite work out where!!



After what seemed like an indeterminable amount of time with just horizontal rain and grey skies for company, the clouds dispersed and the sun came out to play. We even had the pleasure of the "usual vista" from the house, instead of just being 100m of sea and then a wall of mist we were joined by Skye, the Shiants, Harris and Lewis on the horizon for the first time since we'd arrived! - glorious! And the wildlife was obviously basking in the glory too as not only were the usual suspects out and about (gannets, shags, a variety of ducks and divers) but we also had a lone female deer in the garden at dawn, one of the local resident white-tailed sea-eagles flying overhead after breakfast, a seal before lunch and then a smattering of porpoises throughout the afternoon … quite spectacular!





The military activity in the area has seemed to be less than in previous years however none the less "interesting" … ! There has been the odd warship either passing through the area or patrolling the boundaries and for the first time we've borne witness to sonarbuoys being dropped into the water right in front of us. Apparently these "buoys" either listen for or emit pulses of sound, the "sound" that is appearing to be so detrimental to the well-being of marine animals including apparently even cephalopods (octopus and squid etc.) … according to an article in New Scientist this week.



Before we could get too excited about the change in the weather it changed back again … and it was if we'd dreamt it all! It started with the sea mist rolling in, the out-lying islands disappeared one by one and the wall of grey came ever closer … again! And so it continued …. and so it continues to continue as a low weather system is approaching and the outlook is not favourable …



And so i've been given the pleasure of giving you all a quick update as to what we've been up to (lots of storm -watching) and to bid you a fond farewell until the next time … sorry there haven't been the usual flurry of blog activity as there normally is when we're in the field but … there's been little to report on except the absolute plethora of shades of grey that exist - i wonder if Dulux know?! Anyway … we must be off, see you in May when we're to be the Isle of Lewis bound, back to the stickless isles to look for those pesky Risso's dolphins!

Continuing with the theme of "river" dolphins, it's now time to learn more about the lesser known finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides).

The charming finless porpoise is very much a coastal species, predominantly found in salt water areas of the Indo-Pacific region. However, a small and endangered population of the porpoise inhabits the infamous Yangtze River and its tributaries. For this reason we have included the porpoise in the river dolphin series of blogs! Very little is known of the species, as is common with most of the cetaceans covered in this series of blogs, but the plight of the baiji (Yangtze river dolphin) from the Yangtze River has drawn obvious attention towards the oddly named “river pig”.

Much debate has occurred over recent years over the genetic distinction of a number of sub-species of finless porpoise. Many populations are geographically isolated and this has led to the rise of the currently recognised three sub-species. Of which, the Chinese population of freshwater dwelling porpoises is one – Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis.

As with other species of porpoise, N. phocaenoides is not known to be overly acrobatic and shies away from boats and human disturbance. The tragedy of the Yangtze River population is that the levels of human disturbance and boat traffic in the region are so high that many individuals now readily approach boats. They have therefore become more vulnerable to the usual suspects of by-catch in fishing gear and direct boat collision. Unfortunately, their ‘cute’ looks and approachable behaviour have also led to the river population being exploited for the aquarium trade. In conjunction with all the same impacts that pushed the baiji to extinction in recent years, this represents some the most irresponsible of practices the aquarium trade takes part in worldwide.



However, the tragic loss of the baiji has spurned more rapid action in conserving the finless porpoise population of the Yangtze River. The Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature Reserve, an area of wetland in the Yangtze basin near Shishou City, was originally intended for the baiji. More recently it has been adopted as a ‘safe haven’ for the finless porpoise in which 28 individuals live. This is an example Chinese conservationists wish to follow in the fight to conserve the river dwelling populations by using other sanctuaries and reserves that were previously set up for the baiji.

The Tian-e-Zhou population is by no means a strong population and with the only other ‘stronghold’ of finless porpoises in China (in Poyang Lake) coming under threat from dredging activities, their future looks bleak. Chinese conservationists have, however, insisted that the population can be saved if sufficient action is taken immediately. Sand dredging in Poyang Lake has provided a quick and sizeable cash injection into the area. Whilst the lake holds a quarter of all finless porpoises found in China, the boats are the primary cause of an extremely high porpoise death toll. If sufficient protection is put in place for the porpoises and the dredging activities are more strictly controlled, the future of the Poyang finless porpoises may well be restored.

As with many other species of cetacean, their future may rely on tourist revenue replacing the income streams created from the impacting practices, such as sand dredging and fishing. This in itself holds many obstacles but WDCS will be at the forefront of ensuring new cetacean watching programmes are conducted responsibly and to the benefit of the animals the world over.

Despite its appearance, the franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) cannot claim to be a true river dolphin. It typically inhabits shallow salt water areas and is distributed from the coastal waters of south-east Brazil, down to the central Argentinean region. Their long, slender beaks (at a whopping 15% of their body length, it is proportionally the longest of all cetaceans), broad flippers and rounded foreheads suggest a close relationship to all other river dolphins found in South America. However, they are classified as an entirely different family, the Pontoporiidae. One of the smaller species of cetaceans, they are characteristically inconspicuous and hard to spot in the wild due to their avoidance of boats and un-acrobatic tendencies. It is not often that cetaceans are referred to as prey species, but the franciscana has been known to be on the menu for orcas and a variety of shark species.

In keeping in common with the true river dolphins covered in this series of blogs, the future of the franciscana is under threat. Classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, the overall population is decreasing rapidly, due mainly to by-catch in fishing gear. Franciscana populations are suffering additional pressure from reduced fish stocks as fishing fleets target many of the species they rely on for food. Further impacts on population size come also from ingesting foreign objects (predominantly from fishing gear), and chemical pollution. Some population estimates have been made and can appear relatively high. However, it is predicted that there has been at least a 30% reduction in population size over the past 3 generations (36 years) in a decline that has not slowed. The sheer scale of accidental by-catch is so high in most areas, that it is un-sustainable on its own merit. When combined with the other threats facing the franciscana, it is not hard to see the reasons for such a decline.



In response to this decline, a variety of organisations (both governmental and non-governmental) have compiled an action plan for the fraciscana dolphins residing in Brazilian waters. The Chico Mendes Institute for Biological Conservation drew up the final plans to halt the fall in population numbers over a 5 year period, finishing in 2015. The plan approaches the conservation of the franciscana on all fronts. Measures will be introduced to minimise the impacts of fishing and other practices on the dolphins and a large scale effort to understand the population structure will be implemented. Alongside this, the identity of the dolphins will be promoted throughout the regions of Brazil in which they occur and communication of their conservation will be improved. The hope is that political and international co-operation towards conserving the franciscana will significantly improve over the 5 years.

Last year WDCS answered an emergency call for help from river dolphin experts in Bolivia – Enzo Aliaga-Rossel and Mariana Escobar. They reported on a group of Bolivian river dolphins that had become hopelessly trapped in a section of river cut off from the main river during falling water levels and increasing sedimentation.

Bolivian river dolphins are special and vulnerable – they are the only cetaceans found in Bolivia which is a land-locked country in central South America. WDCS responded immediately to help.

The dolphins were trapped in an area where water levels would continue to fall and fish supplies would dwindle. After some careful research and consideration the only possible solution was to relocate the dolphins back into the main river. This was complicated and risky as it meant catching and moving the dolphins overland.

Our partners, Enzo and Maria went on to organize a team, which carried out an exceptional and pioneering rescue. 20 Bolivian dolphins were safely moved via boat and truck to the main river. The group included juveniles and even a newborn calf which was released with its mother. The dolphins were each treated with a great deal of respect and care. Their bodies were protected from harm using mattresses and also wet sheets to keep the sun of them and their temperature down.



Follow up monitoring in the area is now planned to ensure the long term success of the rescue.

River dolphins do spread out into the flooded forest and use lakes and smaller tributaries which are available to them in the high water season. As the water falls the dolphins naturally make their way back to the deeper main river channels. There is a genuine concern that incidents like this one in Bolivia could become more widespread in the Amazon if climate change impacts on the high and low water cycle. This time the dolphins were very fortunate that there was expertise and an incredible commitment to helping them from Enzo, Maria and WDCS.

As part of the outreach programme in South America, WDCS has partnered with the Natutama Foundation. They are a grass roots NGO based in Puerto Nariño, in the Colombian Amazon and work in close cooperation with a local indigenous community. Together, Natutama and WDCS are improving communication with local communities and creating a culture for conservation within them. This requires a long term shift in attitude and approach to wildlife and resources and a greater understanding of threats to them. It also needs involvement of the local community and a will to change behaviour patterns in order to conserve and protect wildlife and habitats.

The community-based conservation model developed by Natutama has resulted in some significant successes for wildlife conservation in the Puerto Nariño region. There is now an increased awareness and concern for more careful management of natural resources in the Amazon and an understanding of how this can benefit their own lives as well as the wildlife.

The location of this project in Puerto Nariño is important as it is on the border area between Colombia, Peru and Brazil. The potential to influence Amazon areas beyond Colombia is clear. WDCS and Natutama are currently exploring opportunities for working with communities living near the border in Peru and Brazil where there are huge threats to wildlife (including hunting river dolphins and manatees). It is an area of great natural beauty and is home to many important natural resources.

Our experiences working in Puerto Nariño over the last few years have shown us that locally-led conservation actions are clearly a very effective way of ensuring Amazon habitats and ecosystems are sustained and protected. In the long term we would like to roll out this community based conservation model throughout the Amazon region. In this manner, WDCS and Natutama can help instill a culture of conservation within the communities, not only for the short term, but for many generations to come.



Some of the key project activities include:

• Promote conservation values and practice with children and their communities through regular educational outreach work.
• Facilitate the preservation of traditional knowledge of animals and plants through education amongst indigenous populations
• Deliver regular community events to promote the heritage and sustainability of the Amazon
• Increase independence of fishermen and educators to forge a culture of conservation among local communities and visitors to the area
• Develop leadership amongst local educators and fishermen
• Deliver conservation messages and strategies through local tourism

WDCS also partners with the Omacha Foundation in Colombia. Omacha is a well-established national NGO with an Amazon conservation programme. Omacha was instrumental in organizing the 1st workshop in Bolivia in order to create the regional Action Plan for South American River Dolphins. They play an important role in networking with others throughout the region working on river dolphin conservation. Omacha’s main focus involves working with NGOs and individuals to develop national action plans for river dolphins in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil.

Educational and well managed river dolphin watching schemes are also of particular importance to the organization. Not only does it provide a way for Amazonian communities to generate income from tourism, it also provides more incentives for the governments to implement conservation policies for river dolphins throughout the region.

Omacha also promotes sustainable fishing practices in the Amazon through the negotiation of fisheries agreements with communities and local authorities. There is a serious danger of habitat degradation and the ultimate collapse of important fisheries throughout the region. Their aim is, therefore, to promote sustainable fishing and to conserve the fisheries in the Amazon for many years to come.