Help us protect dolphins!

Common bottlenose dolphins of the Anguilla Bank. A fragile population that must be strongly protected.

July 9 th 2024

The population of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) which frequents the Anguilla Bank (Islands of Saint-Martin, French and Dutch parts, Anguilla and Saint Barthélemy) is a small population whose number of individuals is estimated at less than around a hundred individuals, according to our first catalog of individual photo identification, which will be enriched over time. It is a fragile population which is strongly impacted by human activity and in particular nautical tourism, which in most cases does not respect the rules of approach and observation. It is essential to respect the tranquility of these dolphins. Strict rules have been decreed by the territories concerned and it is imperative that everyone, professionals and boaters, respect these rules so that the well-being of this particular species is safeguarded; so that the feeding and reproduction of these cetaceans take place without disturbance. Their population will thus be able to remain stable and, we sincerely hope, will be increasing.

The biology of this particular population on the Anguilla Bank is still poorly known, particularly its distribution area. The adults come to mate and females give birth during the period from January to May in the waters of the island of Saint-Martin in particular and near Tintamarre islet (Saint-Martin National Nature Reserve), as well as at Scrub in Anguilla. They disperse the rest of the year. It is possible that they remain on the Anguilla Bank but it is also possible that some navigate further off the Anguilla Bank (Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saba, Saint Eustatius, British and American Virgin Islands, etc.). Your help is therefore valuable. If you encounter this species of dolphin, anywhere, take photos of their dorsal fins to identify them individually. Do not hesitate to send them to us as well as to the organizations whose contacts are specified on the flyer.

This flyer is published to raise awareness about respecting the well-being of these dolphins. Please strictly respect the rules of approach and observation in place and encourage a wide audience to do so. Please distribute this flyer without moderation. In this way we will enjoy the presence of these magnificent aquatic creatures for a long time for the pleasure of all.

Megaptera thanks you for your eco responsibility. 

Megaptera wishes particularly to thank the Agoa Sanctuary and CARSPAW for their financial support which allowed us to do this initial work to produce on the one hand a first catalog of photo identification of this population of common bottlenose dolphins which can only be improved in the future by additional pictures and on the other hand to produce and distribute this flyer. We also thank Wind Adventures, Emmanuel Demanez, Agnès Etchegoyen, Nicolas Maslach and the Saint Martin National Nature Reserve for their technical and logistical support over many years.

Michel Vély 

Doctor Veterinary medicine 

Chairman 

Megaptera 

www.megaptera.org

[email protected]