Endangered and Overlooked: The Struggle to Save the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin

The Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) is among the poorest understood oceanic mammals. There is a lack of historical and present-day information about population size, habitats, ecology, and distribution has led to the species being placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to place them on the endangered species list, as the available information points to a small and quickly declining population of Atlantic humpback dolphins living in their native range. The IUCN estimates that there are 3,000 or fewer members of the species left in their native range, but acknowledges that the data we have to determine this is incomplete and that more research and surveys on the topic could reveal a more robust population than was first thought.

What Is an Atlantic Humpback Dolphin?

The Atlantic humpback dolphin is a coastal dolphin species that is native to the coastlines of tropical and subtropical Africa from Morocco to Angola. Unlike some other dolphin species, the Atlantic humpback dolphin swims in relatively shallow waters, less than 30 meters in depth. This proclivity for shallow waters means that the dolphins should, in theory, have a huge amount of contact with beach-going swimmers as they share a lot of the same waters as recreational swimmers and sports participants, and they do. However, despite this overlapping territory, little historical and modern-day dedicated research has been done on the species. The resulting knowledge gap is a serious roadblock for conservationists who don’t have a strong picture of whether the species needs further protection measures and the best way to achieve those.

Background of Conservation Efforts

Conservation for the Atlantic humpback dolphin dates back to at least the early 2000s. At the time, the scope of the damage to the population was not yet the subject of great study and the species moved from the “Vulnerable” list within the IUCN’s database. Despite increased efforts in intelligence gathering and conservation, there is still a veritable understanding gap regarding this cetacean species. Studies and surveys regarding the Atlantic humpback dolphin’s population size, abundance, and other conservation statistics remain limited in scope and number, reducing the amount of available data to draw from. However, an assessment of available data prompted the IUCN to move the species from the “Vulnerable” to the “Critically Endangered” category due to the revelation that the total population of Atlantic humpback dolphins might not exceed 3,000 members.

Most Notable Risks to the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin

According to the IUCN, the Atlantic humpback dolphin’s most powerful enemy is the threat of accidental catch by local fishermen. Coastal construction, habitat destruction or degradation, and active hunting also present real threats to the remaining population as they primarily swim in the shallow waters where humans congregate for recreation and fishing. One thing that magnifies the presence of existing threats is the Atlantic humpback dolphin’s seemingly naturally low abundance. Due to the lack of historical data collected on the species, it’s unclear if the low population numbers of Atlantic humpback dolphins are natural or human-created. However, the already low numbers are not increasing as quickly as one might expect given the conservation efforts. Conservationists require more data and research from surveys and other conservation efforts to determine if the low population of the species is natural or man-made to further concentrate efforts where they are most needed.

Bridging the Information Crevasse

The most important conservation effort right now is to bridge the divide in knowledge regarding the Atlantic humpback dolphin. These animals have not been the subject of widespread study in their native region, which means that authorities on animal conservation lack a clear picture of the species’ history. Without a strong understanding of the species’ natural behaviors, population size, and presence in its endemic regions, experts are unable to determine what methods of conservation and how influential humans have been to the declining population.

This information is crucial to conservationists as it helps them figure out what efforts must be taken to restore or preserve the population. As we have little understanding of the natural behaviors of the Atlantic humpback dolphin, it’s currently difficult to determine things like their breeding behavior and whether humans have interfered with the natural processes that these animals undergo during breeding, which could contribute to lowering population numbers.

Conservationists require the dedicated efforts of scientists and collaborators all throughout the endemic habitat regions of the Atlantic humpback dolphin to help better understand the species’ natural behaviors and distribution. Without this data, it is nearly impossible to fully understand the situation behind the species’ low and declining population.

Current Conservation Efforts

As the IUCN and other interest bodies collect more data on the Atlantic humpback dolphin, its true conservation situation is revealed. The start of dedicated conservation efforts for this species began when the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) decided to back the West African Cetacean project.

One of the most powerful conservation efforts regarding the Atlantic humpback dolphin is the formation of the Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin (CCAHD), an organization dedicated to compiling data and creating specialized conservation plans for this species. Additionally, the CMS has formulated a Concerted Action Plan and developed a Single Species Action Plan for the Atlantic humpback dolphin in an effort to increase the population size in its native region. Other collaborators in the region further back these and other efforts to preserve and maintain the remaining members of the species.

Additionally, further survey information is collaborators all across the Atlantic humpback dolphin’s native range are currently conducting major surveys and research to determine the true best course of action for the species. More conservation efforts include a fishery review, surveys conducted in Senegal, and a three-year research and conservation plan in Guinea. Other countries in the Atlantic humpback dolphin’s native range are also reporting numbers and other data regarding the species and conservation efforts within their borders, including collaborators in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Congo.

How You Can Get Involved

Animal conservationists rely heavily upon citizen scientists and public donations to perform the work they do. There are many ways for the average person to get involved in the effort to preserve the animals that inhabit our ecosystem. The following projects relate to research and conserving the habitat and population of the Atlantic humpback dolphin.

• Creating and maintaining local and/or national reporting organizations
• Providing additional support for individual efforts in conservation through individuals or organizations willing to collect data and samples for the IUCN
• Developing outreach and support documentation in the target languages of the species’ native regions
• Developing programs to help local organizations and individuals who wish to become involved in the conservation efforts
• Adding financial and equipment support to cetacean support bodies in the native region to bolster the efforts of local bodies involved in the conservation of the species