Stories
ZSI-South Korea Study Uncovers New Insights on Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise
- •A collaborative study by ZSI and Pukyong National University provides new genetic, anatomical, and ecological insights into the wide-ridged Indo-Pacific finless porpoise.
- •The research, published in Ecology and Evolution, was based on a finless porpoise found stranded at Kozhikode beach, Kerala, whose skeleton is now preserved at ZSI's Western Ghat Regional Centre.
- •Genetic analysis revealed significant differences from Pacific populations, suggesting distinct sub-populations in the Indian Ocean and highlighting the need for further genetic studies.
- •Ecological niche modeling showed only 23.4% of suitable habitats for the porpoise are within recognized Marine Protected Areas or Important Marine Mammal Areas.
- •Researchers identified coastal industrial development, accidental capture, vessel collisions, and marine pollution as major threats, calling for systematic marine surveys and expanded protected corridors.
Key Questions Answered
The collaborative study provided new genetic, anatomical, and ecological insights into the wide-ridged Indo-Pacific finless porpoise. Genetic analysis revealed significant differences from Pacific populations, suggesting the presence of distinct sub-populations within the Indian Ocean.
The complete, articulated skeleton of the finless porpoise has been permanently preserved at the Zoological Survey of India’s Western Ghat Regional Centre in Kozhikode. It serves as a reference for anatomical, taxonomic, and evolutionary studies as well as public education.
The researchers identified coastal industrial development, accidental capture in fishing gear, vessel collisions, and marine pollution as major anthropogenic pressures impacting the species. Additionally, the study found that only 23.4 percent of suitable habitats fall within recognised Marine Protected Areas or Important Marine Mammal Areas.
