MARINE CONSERVATION WITH DOLPHINS AND WHALES IN BEAUTIFUL MAURITIUS

LOCATION:
You'll be based in La Preneuse, Black River, on the south west coast of Mauritius. This is a small town approximately 40km south of the capital Port Louis. There are regular buses and taxis to access many of the country's most beautiful beaches and nature parks.

"I have learnt heaps and gained invaluable experiences" - Annie Jenkin

SOME CREATURES YOU'RE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER

Spinner Dolphin – Stenella longirostris

Mauritius: Spinner dolphins use the bay areas of the West coast of Mauritius, specifically Tamarin, Black River and Point Moyenne, for socialising and resting during the morning. They occur in large groups averaging 50 animals and are easy to identify by their high spinning jumps.
Description: There are several forms of the spinner dolphin the one found in Mauritian waters is the Hawaiian form with a distinct tricolour pattern on the body and long black rostrum or beak. They grow to just less than 2.5m and can weigh up to 78kg. This species of dolphin tend to move away from the coast in the late afternoon to feed in deep water on squid and small fish. Gestation: 10.5 months.
Status: Spinner dolphins are considered abundant but local populations are vulnerable to human disturbance and habitat degradation.

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops aduncus (inshore)

Mauritius: In Mauritius these dolphins occur along the coast behind the reef line, they are usually seen in small groups, average 6 individuals.
Description: Basically grey colouration which fades ventrally. Spotting is seen on the stomach of older animals. These dolphins live for 40 years or more and grow to 2.5-2.6 meters, weighing between 180 and 230kg. Bottlenose feed opportunistically on reef and bottom dwelling fish and cephalopods (squid and octopus). Gestation: 12 months.
Status: This species is not considered endangered but due to its near shore distribution is vulnerable to many forms of human disturbance.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin – Tursiops truncatus (Offshore)

Mauritius: This species has been encountered several times along the west coast in groups of 5 to more than 50 animals. They are generally travelling and do not stay long in water less than 50m deep. No detailed study has been conducted yet on this species.
Description: This species is often confused with the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin due to very similar appearance. The Common Bottlenose is up to a meter larger (up to 3.8m) and generally has darker colouring and a shorter beak. When the two species are in the same area the common bottlenose will generally remain offshore. They are opportunistic feeders and groups vary greatly in size depending on their preferred habitat, pelagic groups will form larger groups than those found closer to the coast.
Status: The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is considered widespread and abundant but in specific areas populations are under threat from habitat degradation, pollution and conflict with fisheries.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Mauritius: Humpback whales arrive along our coast from the end of June and can be seen until the beginning of November, though sometimes as late as December. They migrate from their Antarctic feeding grounds to the warmer tropical seas in winter to mate and give birth. These whales are either seen as individuals, mother-calf pairs or sometimes a mother and calf with a male.
Description: As the name suggests this species has a hump in front of the dorsal fin. The body is black on the back with varying amounts of white on the flippers and underside. The flippers are very long compared to any other whale species. Humpback whales can grow to 16 or 17m and weigh up to 40 tonne and live for at least 50 years.
Status: In the 20^th Century Humpback whales were hunted extensively drastically reducing their numbers. Today this species appears to be recovering but they are still threatened by human disturbance and exploitation and discarded fishing equipment such as nets.

Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

Mauritius: Sperm Whales can be found in the deep water, more than 500m, around the coastline of Mauritius throughout the year and are concentrated along the west coast.
Description: Sperm Whales are the largest of the toothed whales reaching 18m and weighing almost 60 tonnes. They have a very large block shaped head with the blowhole positioned on the front, left hand side giving an angled blow. The dorsal fin is low and rounded. In general these whales are a dark grey with a few white patches on the ventral surface usually around the lower jaw. They feed on large squid, rays, sharks and some fish.
Status: In the past, as with most of the whales, this species was hunted extensively. Today the populations of Sperm whales are slowly increasing but entanglement in fishing equipment and collisions with ships are still threats.

Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Mauritius: Known to occur off the west and south western coasts of Mauritius in deeper water, they are found in groups of 10 to 50 individuals. This animal is yet to be studied in detail in Mauritius.
Description: The body is a black or dark brown with a lighter grey area behind the dorsal fin. The head is large and rounded. Male Pilot whales can grow to 7m with the females usually not more than 5m. This species feeds mainly on squid sometimes taking fish or octopus.
Status: While the overall population of Pilot whales is thought to be abundant, ongoing hunting and by-catch are thought to be depleting populations in areas such as Japan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Melon Headed Dolphin (Peponocephala electra)

Mauritius: Apart from some sightings no information is currently available about this species in Mauritian waters.
World Distribution: Oceanic in the warm tropical equatorial waters. Very little is known about this species.
Description: The Melon-headed Whale is dark grey or black with some lighter ventral markings and white or pink lips. The head is rounded and downward sloping without a beak. Individuals can grow to almost 3m and weigh up to 210kg. This species live in very large groups of several hundred to more than 1000 individuals and feed on pelagic fish and squid.
Status: While no specific conservation problem has been identified for this species, the limited knowledge about population size and reproductive behaviour is reason for concern and needs to be addressed in the near future.

"All in all, a fantastic experience!" - Sandy Zouzaneas

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MARINE CONSERVATION WITH DOLPHINS AND WHALES IN BEAUTIFUL MAURITIUS	MAURITIUS
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