Atlantic Humpback Dolphins
Surveys and Assessments
Project Overview
Atlantic humpback dolphins (Sousa teuszii) are critically endangered with as few as 9 populations remaining worldwide! The Senegalese population is the largest known in the world with about 100 individuals which shows just how vulnerable this species truly is.
A few years ago, Project Wild Gambia rediscovered that they were using and breeding in Gambian waters. Then two years later, we found a decent population at a new feeding site where we plan to conduct boat and shore based transect surveys in order to photo ID individuals. This will become a long-term project as part of the global partnership.
One of our transect surveys led by Marine Biologist, Sarah.
The importance of the project
This project is growing bigger, and it is crucial that it becomes a regular form of surveying and monitoring in The Gambia, in order to work towards further understanding how this critically endangered species utilises Gambian waters, and therefore how better to protect it. Additionally, the better we understand the dolphins, the easier it would be to set up a sustainable ecotourism initiative, which could greatly increase income for the community on the nearby island.
All data and/or information that we collect, we share with similar conservation bodies and thus in turn, we can help to protect this population.
Another boat based transect led by Zoologist, Caitlin and Field Guide, Kawsu.
How Can You Help
You can support our conservation work by getting onboard and joining one of our research expeditions (open-group) or organising your own academic fieldcourse (for academic professionals).
By joining our annual Marine Research expedition, or in turn, any other upcoming expedition, whereby these projects are still funded, you will be directly contributing to the conservation and research of endangered green turtles in The Gambia.
if you're interested in finding out about other upcoming expeditions, please subscribe below.
Alternatively, you can donate to us to support our projects and in turn, support the local communities in the Smiling Coast.
