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Dolphin Feature: Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

© Carma Haley Shoemaker

The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, (sousa chinensis), is also known as the Chinese White Dolphin or the Chinese/Asian Pink Dolphin. These dolphins can be found in areas from the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Northern East China Sea to New South Wales, Australia. Found mainly in warm waters, the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins live in the shallow areas of the ocean, seas, and rivers, usually less than 20 meters in depth.

Born in varying shades of light black to dark gray, their coloring changes with age. Within weeks after birth the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin's color fades to a light gray and slowly, as they mature, changes again to become white or pink.

Current studies involving the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins are limited to the Hong Kong territorial waters due to their decreased numbers. Currently, there are approximately only 100 to 200 of these unique dolphins left in existence. With the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin's high death, and low birth rates, the exact numbers are unknown. It has been rumored that a shy pod of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins live in the Pearl River Delta, but the fact has not been confirmed.

The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin differs from other species not only in their color, but also in their body structure. The dorsal fin is smaller and located further away from the head as other species of dolphins. Also, the lateral fins, (or flippers), are also smaller. It is believed that the differences in fin shape and size is one factor related to the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins choice of habitat. One of the major differences in the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, as compared to other species of dolphins, is the fact that these dolphins occupy both fresh and soft water regions.

Why are there so few of this unique species? Numerous factors have played a part in this fact. These factors include topics such as:

Construction and development of the dolphins preferred mating and feeding habitat Screened, (but not treated), sewage waste being dumped into the western harbors Household and industrial chemical wastes and DDT, (pesticides still used in China), seeping into river waters Overfishing of Hong Kong waters Dolphins being trapped and killed in fishing nets These dolphins are not protected by any laws and are still being hunted for their meat, jawbones, and fins.

There are some that may ask, Why should I care about these dolphins, or any other dolphins for that matter? The answer is simple. If these dolphins, or any of the other species that are endangered, which are adapted to living in an aquatic environment, begin to die off as there natural habitat kills them, what is the most logical next step? How long will it be before OUR habitat begins to kill us off? After all, we do breath the same air, eat the same fish, and depend on the same land and areas as the dolphins...