A survey of the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) in the Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve, Senegal, 21 October to 7 November 2015 Report author: Dr Caroline R. Weir Author contact: www.ketosecology.co.uk Email:
[email protected] Tel: +44 (0)777 578 7564 On behalf of: SYLVATROP 26, Rte de Vannes - 44100 Nantes - FRANCE SIRET : 477 748 578 000 10 – NAF : 9499Z Tel : + 33 2 40 40 18 02 - Mobile : + 33 6 87 56 38 61 Email :
[email protected] Web site : www.sylvatrop.org Local partners Direction des Parcs Nationaux (DPN) Direction des Aires Marines Communautaires Protégées (DAMCP) Submission date: 7 January 2016 (Version 2) Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 1.1. Background 3 1.2. Objectives 3 2. METHODS 6 2.1. Study area 6 2.2. Survey coverage 9 2.3. Survey methods 10 2.3.1. Survey team 10 2.3.2. Survey methodology 11 2.3.3. Dolphin photo-identification 12 2.3.4. Data analysis 13 3. RESULTS 16 3.1. Survey effort 16 3.2. Dolphin sightings 19 3.3. Dolphin distribution 21 3.3.1. Survey data 21 3.3.2. Information from questionnaires 25 3.4. Dolphin relative abundance 28 3.5. Dolphin group size and composition 29 3.6. Dolphin photo-identification 33 3.6.1. Minimum population size 33 3.6.2. Movements within the Saloum Delta 36 4. DISCUSSION 39 4.1. Survey effort and logistics 39 4.2. Dolphin distribution and movements 39 4.3. Photo-identification 42 4.4. Managing the Sousa dolphin population 45 4.5.