CLYMENE DOLPHIN STRANDING EVENT IN PERNAMBUCO STATE, NORTHEAST COAST OF BRAZIL

Abstract

On 30 th January 2021, one dolphins was reported stranded at Ipojuca municipality in Pernambuco State, Brazil. The teams from Ecoassociados and from Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos attended to the rescue call as representatives of the Rede de Encalhes e Informações de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Nordeste do Brasil. The individual showed a high level of stress and muscular spasms, was soon in shock and died around 90 minutes later. After further analyses and necropsy procedure, the teams identified the individual as an adult female Stenella clymene specimen. There was no evidence of boat strike or interaction with fishing gear. Although the organs were highly parasitized, this was not the cause of the death. Alterations in the lungs suggested infectious interstitial pneumonia. Currently, this species is classified as ‘Least concern’ by the IUCN and is not listed on the Brazilian Official National List of Species Threatened with Extinction. Hence, our study highlights the importance of a systematic monitoring of marine mammals, stranding networks and databases for species conservation. We also point out the need for an official list of endangered species of the Pernambuco state, to support local and regional actions. Thus, national conservation plans could be achieved in a more straightforward way and, in the best possible way,strategic priorities for species conservation, protection, and management could be developed and applied.