Extinction nears for whales and dolphins

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Extinction nears for whales and dolphins

By Alex Kirby

BBC News Online environment correspondent

 

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3024785.stm

 

Some whales, dolphins and porpoises are now so endangered they could

vanish within a decade, scientists say.

 

William Perrin, IUCN

 

The warning comes from an international group of cetacean experts at

IUCN-The World Conservation Union.

 

They say species like the baiji (the Yangtze River dolphin) are

unlikely to last for another 10 years.

 

Other small cetaceans and several of the great whale species are

almost as endangered, they believe.

 

The experts issue their warning in Dolphins, Whales and Porpoises:

2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World's Cetaceans.

 

The plan is the third of three written by IUCN's Cetacean Specialist

Group (CSG) in the last 15 years.

 

Help for the overlooked

 

It lists the 86 recognised cetacean species, from the whales of the

high seas to the small and increasingly seldom-seen freshwater species

in southern Asia and Latin America.

 

 

 

Dr Randall Reeves, who chairs the CSG, said: " Some of the great whales

such as the blue, humpback, sperm and right whales often receive a lot

of attention.

 

" They are magnificent animals, and certainly important to the CSG's

mission. The Group focuses, however, on smaller species, often

lesser-known and in developing countries, that are particularly

threatened with extinction. "

 

The CSG says humans have not so far caused the extinction of any

cetacean species, but it thinks that could change.

 

A former CSG chair, William Perrin, said: " It seems unlikely the baiji

will still be around when the next action plan is formulated eight or

10 years from now. "

 

Vanishing fast

 

The baiji, a freshwater dolphin now limited to the main channel of the

Yangtze river in China, is considered the most endangered cetacean.

 

 

 

From surveys in 1985 and 1986, the total population was estimated at

around 300 animals. Between 1997 and 1999, extensive surveys sighted

only 21-23 dolphins.

 

Other cetaceans thought at extreme risk are the vaquita (the Gulf of

California porpoise) and several local populations of whales and

dolphins, all classed on IUCN's Red List as critically endangered.

 

Other endangered cetaceans include northern hemisphere right whales,

the blue whale, Hector's dolphin, and the Ganges/Indus River dolphins.

Some species still awaiting formal assessment are known to be in

serious danger of extinction.

 

Hunting persists

 

William Perrin said: " " Some progress has been made, but... grave

threats to the continued existence of many cetaceans still exist, and

some threats are worsening.

 

 

 

" Cetacean diversity, like all biodiversity worldwide, is crumbling, so

we must redouble our efforts. "

 

Threats to cetaceans include the deliberate killing of some species

for food and predator control.

 

Animals die after becoming entangled in fishing gear, or colliding

with vessels. Some species are targeted to supply the demand from

aquaria for live animals.

 

Glimmers of hope

 

Fishing depletes food sources, coastal habitats are damaged by

development, and new types of military sonar can apparently cause

lethal damage to deep-diving cetaceans.

 

But the CSG sees some signs for hope. It says: " Several populations of

southern right whales, humpbacks in many areas, grey whales in the

eastern North Pacific, and blue whales in both the eastern North

Pacific and central North Atlantic have begun to show signs of recovery. "

 

The plan includes recommendations for action to protect some of the

most threatened species. These include modifications to fishing

methods that would benefit the baiji, vaquita, and Hector's dolphin.

 

Blue whale image courtesy of Dan Shapiro/US National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration