Science Alone Won’t Do It! South Africa’s Endangered Humpback Dolphins Sousa plumbea Face Complex Conservation Challenges

The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin ( Sousa plumbea ) is “endangered” with likely less than 500 animals remaining in South African waters. Established 2016, the SouSA Consortium a formalised network of scientists and conservationists to combine knowledge research efforts, make coordinated decisions aim conserving species. first collaborative project collated available photo-identification data an attempt refine national population estimate investigate movements between sites. This work was able identify 250 uniquely marked individuals, divided into south-coast (Agulhas bioregion) east-coast (Natal populations. Environmental factors almost certainly play role declining numbers species However, individual threats solutions are challenging as marine environment undergoing significant natural anthropogenic changes major shifts distribution some prey, competitor predator Therefore, we believe that continued investigation potential contributing their interaction will take too long, inevitably resulting another case documenting extinction. With this mind, present results SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis effort help us next steps toward conservation dolphins We unanimously conclude no single cause for rapid decline waters can be identified, cumulative effects multiple stressors, which difficult pinpoint mitigate, impacting numbers. While highlighting need research, suggest shift more action-focused concrete being development Conservation Management Plan input from other stakeholders.