2025/6/20 Dolphin survey

Our team routinely conducts boat survey to monitor the visual health condition of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Chinese white dolphins) inhabiting the Lantau waters. This time we brought along a group of university students from the CityUHK Student Residence to experience how we conduct field work.

A short briefing on the basics of cetaceans in our waters and safety precautions was given to ensure everybody can learn something from this educational trip.

Contrary to the weather forecast, it turned out to be a nice sunny day. And we even spotted a group of dolphins, with a newborn calf swimming alongside its mother! In case you didn't know, "white" dolphin babies are actually grey in colour!

If you look carefully, you can notice some "wrinkles" on the calf's grey body. Those lines are called neonatal folds (or fetal folds) as a result of the fetus being folded inside the mother's womb. The folds are only visible shortly after birth and will fade within weeks. 

We are delighted to witness a new member of our dolphin community. We wish them thrive in our waters happily and healthily, which relies much on everyone in the society. The ocean is not only home to aquatic animals but also closely related to our daily life and wellbeing. We hope this trip has raised conservation awareness among the participants such that we can contribute to a sustainable future to our planet.