@article{,

title = {Assessment of beach-cast cetaceans in Pakistan: implications for conservation and management},

author = {Gore, M. A.,Culloch, R,Gray, H.,Hoelzel, A. R.,Lockyer, C.,Kiani, M. S.,Waqas, U,Hussain, B,Rahim, Abdul,Shah, A.,Ormond, R. F.},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},

volume = {16},

number = {104},

pages = {1-7},

abstract = {Until recently, little was known about the distribution and species occurrence of marine cetaceans in Pakistani waters, an area which needed to be

addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan

identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,

estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys

over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast

remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully

extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples

were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results

of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide

additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings

occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence

in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing

the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean

Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose

dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1

spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical

spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s

whales},

keywords = {aging, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, beach survey, Bryde’s whale, carcass analysis, genetics, Pakistan, stranding},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}