Page 18 - OPCFHK Annual Report 2020-21
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亞洲區內保育工作 Regional Conservation Efforts
弓頭鯨：了解鄂霍次克海種群的洄遊模式及面對的威脅
Bowhead Whale: Understanding Threats and Migration Patterns in the Okhotsk Sea
© Olga Shpak
捕鯨禁令後的緩慢恢復 A Slow Recovery after Whaling Predation
弓頭鯨曾經是捕鯨者的主要目標，因為牠們泳速緩慢，死後會立即 Bowhead whales were a long-time favoured target of
浮上水面，並且擁有價值高昂的油分及鯨鬚。弓頭鯨的商業捕獵大 whalers because they swim slowly, float immediately
致於一九二一年停頓，當時全球的弓頭鯨數量僅餘不足三千頭。時 after death and are sources of valuable oil and baleen.
至今日，西北極區的弓頭鯨數量已大幅回復，現時成年弓頭鯨的數 By the time commercial bowhead whaling stopped in
目約有一萬頭，可是在副極地區鄂霍次克海的種群數目依然十分稀 around 1921, less than 3,000 bowhead whales existed
少，處於危險水平。氣候變化、商業發展及人類活動對弓頭鯨的棲 worldwide. Today, the Western Arctic bowhead whale
息地、洄遊模式及食物來源帶來嚴重威脅，但目前尚未有研究廣泛 population has recovered significantly and measures
about 10,000 adults; however, the subarctic Okhotsk
探討這些威脅及與其相關的具體影響。 Sea population remains dangerously low. Climate
change, commercial development and human activities
pose significant threats to their habitat, migration
patterns and food sources, but the extent of these
threats and their specifi c areas of effect have not been
extensively studied.
Tag-and-Track for a Better Understanding
In 2020, OPCFHK supported a research project
led by the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and
Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences to
deepen understanding of the Okhotsk Sea bowhead
whale. The team tracked the bowhead whales via
© Olga Shpak satellite tagging to define their migratory routes and
winter grounds. They used drones to conduct an
aerial photo-ID study and created a catalogue from
透過標記及追蹤深入認識弓頭鯨 the data. The photos also showed the visible scars
在二零二零年，保育基金支持了一項由 A.N. Severtsov Institute of on each whale, allowing the team to determine
Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences 領導 whether the injuries were from natural threats such
的研究項目，深入了解鄂霍次克海的弓頭鯨。團隊透過衛星標記揭 as killer whales or anthropogenic threats such as
示弓頭鯨的洄遊路線及越冬地，並利用無人機進行空中拍攝，藉以 entanglement and ship strikes. Concurrently, the team
辨認弓頭鯨及建立個體識別數據庫。團隊憑相片上弓頭鯨的明顯傷 conducted continuous observations during the tourist
season to assess recreational activities as potential
痕，可以判斷弓頭鯨的傷勢是自然因素（例如受到殺人鯨攻擊）或 sources of disturbance to the whales. These results,
人為因素（例如被漁具誤纏及船隻撞擊）造成。與此同時，團隊亦 combined with conducting traditional biopsies of
在旅遊旺季期間持續進行觀察，以評估消閒活動對弓頭鯨造成的潛 the whales, will allow the team to provide IUCN with
在影響。由此所得的數據，結合傳統活體組織檢查結果，將有助團 more comprehensive information about the whales'
隊向世界自然保護聯盟提供更全面的弓頭鯨種群趨勢資料。 population trend.
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