Background and History
Sousa chinensis
Image courtesy of Kate Stafford
Coastal dolphins are among the most threatened mammals worldwide and our lack of knowledge about the basic ecology of these northern Australian coastal dolphins is one of the major obstacles to their effective on-ground conservation in Northern Territory waters.
Recent research undertaken in north Queensland by Dr Guido Parra indicated that both dolphins are typically found in shallow, coastal and estuarine waters. Both dolphins were found within 10km of land, in water 15m deep and within 20km of a river mouth.
The relatively pristine and undeveloped NT coast could hold the most secure populations of the Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and be crucial for the long term conservation of both species. Due to their coastal and estuarine distributions, the Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are particularly vulnerable to human activities in and nearby coastal areas.
