Abundance of freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, based on mark-recapture analysis of photo-identified individuals

Abstract

From February 1999 to August 2002 ca 9,000km (840 hours) of search effort and 549 hours of observation on Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) were conducted by boat in the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. An abundance estimate based on mark-recapture analysis of individuals photographed during separate surveys is presented here. Petersen and Jolly-Seber analysis methods were employed and compared along with earlier estimates derived from strip-transect analysis and direct counts. These comparisons serve to evaluate the biases of each method and assess the reliability of the abundance estimates. The feasibility of video-identification is also assessed. Total population size calculated by Petersen and Jolly-Seber mark-recapture analyses, was estimated to be 55 (95% CL=44-76; CV=6%) and 48 individuals (95% CL=33-63; CV=15%) respectively. Estimates based on strip-transect and direct count analysis for one sampling period, which was also included in the mark-recapture analysis, were within the confidence limits of the Jolly-Seber estimate (Ncount = 35 and Nstrip = 43). Calculated potential maximum biases appeared to be small, i.e. 2% of N for Petersen and 10% of N for the Jolly-Seber method, which are lower than the associated CVs. In addition, a high re-sight probability was calculated for both methods varying between 65% and 67%. Video images were considered a valuable, supplementary tool to still photography in the identification of individual dolphins in this study. For future monitoring of trends in abundance using mark/recapture analyses, a time interval is recommended between the two sampling periods that is short enough to minimise the introduction of errors due to gains and losses. Also, survey area coverage during photoidentification should be similar to avoid violation of the assumption of equal capture probabilities. The alarmingly low abundance estimates presented underline the need for immediate and strong action to preserve Indonesia’s only known freshwater dolphin population.