Maharashtra: Genetic study of humpback dolphins shows encouraging results

Humpback Dolphins

A study titled ‘conservation genetics of humpback dolphins along the Maharashtra coast with a secondary focus on cetacean strandings' was conducted by Mihir Sule from the Konkan Cetacean Research Team and funded by the Mangrove Foundation of the Maharashtra Forest Department.

The study was conducted between 2020-22, a first for the state. The secondary data was collected from fishermen across the entire Maharashtra coastline using interview surveys to map the distribution of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (sousa plumbea).

The data indicates that humpback dolphins show a contiguous distribution across the state's waters in the Arabian sea. They occur in waters less than 30-35 meters depth and may often enter the larger estuaries at high tide. There appear to be no breaks in their distribution across this region. Due to their shallow water habitat, humpback dolphins are commonly seen by fishermen, from their vessels and from the sea shores. The regional common names of the humpback dolphin differ across the coastline.

In phase two of this study, tissue samples from the carcasses of marine mammals (incidentally entangled, stranded) were collected. Two workshops (June 25, 2021: In-person and July 20 2021: online) were also conducted with the Maharashtra State Forest Department staff to train them as first responders for dealing with marine mammals stranding.

Using samples of humpback dolphins from this study, genetic analysis was also carried out.