A note on observations of cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary, Australia to Israel, April 1995

A forty-day voyage from Hobart (Australia) to Haifa (Israel) included a visual and acoustic census for cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. One hundred sixty-three sightings were made, 156 occurring within Twelve species identified. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) encountered most frequently (51% of identified encounters), whilst spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) numerically dominant. Other bottlenose (Tursiops spp.), short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), pan-tropical spotted attenuata), rough-toothed (Steno bredanensis), Risso’s (Grampus griseus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), short-finned pilot (Globicephala macrorhynchus), false (Pseudorca crassidens), Bryde’s (Balaenoptera edeni) Cuvier’s beaked (Ziphius cavirostris). The occurred WNW Seychelles, east Somalia, Gulf Aden Red Sea. Half sperm Ras Hafun (Somalia), adults, subadults at least one calf. Thirteen hours spent listening using towed array ship was underway. Cetaceans detected 78% stations, with possible four recorded (sperm whale, dolphin, dolphin). survey shows value platforms opportunity studying pelagic communities It highlights need further research northwestern sector where anthropogenic threats are varied increasing.