Page 26 - OPCFHK Annual Report 2018-19

亞洲區內保育工作：關於保育和管理鯨豚動物的多學科

方法─長江江豚和伊河豚

Regional Conservation Efforts: A Multidisciplinary Approach Towards
Cetacean Conservation and Management — Yangtze Finless Porpoise
and Irrawaddy Dolphin

威脅及保育價值

鯨豚在海洋生態系統中有著關鍵作用。鯨豚不單是
生態系統健康及生物多樣性的指標，還帶動水流
促使水層垂直混合，從而加強海洋養分的流動，
確保海洋生物得到穩定的養分供應。因此，制定
鯨豚棲息地和種群密度的評估標準、進行疾病監控
計劃和定點監測，對鯨豚保育十分重要。
被列為極度瀕危的淡水長江江豚，出沒於長江及
毗鄰湖泊。儘管一直以來都有的不同保育工作，但
隨著近二十年沿海地區的急速發展，野生江豚的
數量已大大減少。
雖然相關研究不多，伊河豚在世界自然保護聯盟
瀕危物種紅色名錄中同被列為瀕危物種。工業化和
人類發展加劇，對牠們的自然棲息地造成打擊，
並可能導致伊河豚數量減少。

© Isabel Beasley
伊河豚
Irrawaddy dolphin

Threats and conservation values

Cetaceans play a key role in the marine ecosystem. In addition
to being an indicator of the health of the marine ecosystem and
biodiversity, cetaceans help provide vertical nutrient mixing in the
water column, ensuring a stable nutrient supply to other marine
organisms. It is crucial to develop habitat and population assessment
criteria, disease control plans and fixed-point monitoring to help
safeguard cetacean survival in the region.
Classified as critically endangered, the freshwater Yangtze finless
porpoise is native to the Yangtze river and its adjoining lakes. Despite
conservation efforts, its wild population has significantly reduced
amid rapid coastal developments in the past 20 years.
Though less studied, the Irrawaddy dolphin is also listed as
endangered on the IUCN Red List. Increasing industrialisation and
development is taking a huge toll on their natural habitat, and could
© METAS Laboratory
lead to a decline in their numbers.

24 | 保育研究