The 'Pink Dolphin' Is actually a species of dolphin known as the Chinese white dolphin, adult dolphins of this species living along the Chinese coast however have developed pink skin. This is thought to be caused by blood vessels that were overdeveloped for thermoregulation. The 'Pink Dolphin' Is a species very close to my heart as as its existence is tied in with Hong Kong and it has become a symbol of the city and was first seen as a bad omen in the times when Hong Kong was a small fishing community and it was thought that these dolphins would steal fish from the nets, they are now however seen as a natural treasure that we are unfortunately losing due to land reclamation, pollution and the construction of structures such as a 50km bridge linking Hong Kong to Macau. The estimated population of pink dolphins living in Hong Kong waters was recorded as 61 dolphins as of December 2015. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Delphinidae Genus: Sousa Species: Chinensis Conservation of the Pink DolphinIn 2003 There was an estimated 158 Pink Dolphins left in the waters of Hong Kong, and now there is an estimated 61 Dolphins remaining. That is a 60% decrease in just over a decade. In 2010 alone 17 dead dolphins were found washed up along the beaches of Hong Kong and although of course death is natural, these Dolphins have a lifespan of 40 years and only reproduced once a year, so a death of 17 is highly significant. There are more than a couple of reasons why this species is dying out, all of which are caused by humans. One is to do with pollution. Sewage ends up in the water, and the dolphins swim through it. As they swim through this polluted water, it enters their bodies. When female dolphins feed their young with their milk, the milk contains absorbed toxins from the water. This process is explained further below. This process of toxins being built up within organisms is a process called bioaccumulation. This is when an animal ingests a contaminated item and the toxin stays in its body. However the dolphins most likely ingest the toxins through biomagnification which is when a predator eats prey infected with a toxin and becomes infected itself. In the ocean, when pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), enter the water, the first organisms affected are often simpler ones like plankton or algae. The toxins enter a dolphin’s body when it ingests contaminated fish or simpler organisms. Researchers have discovered that instead of eliminating the toxins in its waste, a dolphin stores the offending chemical in its fatty tissues, or blubber, and breast milk. These chemicals in the breast milk can then go on to cause harmful and even possibly fatal birth defects to the calfs which directly affects the pink dolphin population. As well as sewage in the water, a large portion of Hong Kong's rubbish is thrown into the sea every year and this floating debris can trap, maim or even drown the dolphins by not allowing them to reach the surface to acquire oxygen. Another problem is overfishing. Dolphins only eat fish. This is a huge problem in Hong Kong because we take too many fish out of the sea, meaning there are hardly any left for the dolphins to eat. A huge effort will have to put in by the Hong Kong people and also internationally if this species that is classified on the IUCN red list as critically endangered is to fight off extinction. Luckily already in Hong there is a commpany www.hkdolphinwatch.com/ who have regular boat excursions to observe the Dolphins which helps raise awereness for this endagered species and hopefully encorauage people to start preserving our waters and the wildlife within them. "It is up to the government and every Hong Kong citizen to stand up for dolphins. We risk losing them unless we all take action," - Samuel Hung, Society Chairman
1 Comment
|
Jack BojanArdingly College Archives
March 2017
|