Contribution to evaluate population size and distribution of
small cetaceans in the Sine Saloum, Senegal
Project CIRCE - Essamaye
From the 29th January until 6th
February 2005
9 days – 7 nights
The Sine Saloum fossil river system, situated around 150 km South of Dakar,
is a nimportant area in terms of reproduction and alimentation of many species
of molluscs, crustaceans, fish, birds but also dolphins. The ecological importance
of this system is internationally recognized and, in order to protect the biodiversity
of that exeptionnal marine environment, a Marine Protected Area system has been
put in place under the influence of Haïdar El Ali president of Dakar's
Océanium which is a school-diving center but also an association for
marine environment protection (http://www.oceanium.org/).
The objective of the action we are proposing is double:
The first objective is to participate in the survey effort and abundance evaluation of the different marine species present in the Sine Saloum done in the operations of Marine Protected Area and Sine Saloum's Natural Park settings. CIRCE proposes to contribute to the evaluation of the distribution and population size of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic humpbacked dolphin (Sousa teuszii) commonly met in the Sine Saloum but nobody knows sizes or distributions of the Sine Saloum system. Nevertheless, we have to keep in mind that in order to have solid results, we will have to do many more similar expeditions in that region and that expedition is the first of a series of campaigns.
Bottlenose
dolphin in the Sine Saloum
The second objective is to contribute to the training of Senegalese students
working in marine ecology. A student will be welcome for the entire mission
and will be trained to survey techniques and cetaceans distribution study. This
operation is conducted in a partnership between CIRCE and Essamaye. Essamaye
(www.senegalia.com) is
in charge of all the logistic organisation of this operation (transport, dugout,
camping, food and cooking, guide, dugouter and cook and of the itinaries and
visits organisation) and CIRCE takes care of all the scientific part of this
operation.
Progress of the operations
Two techniques will be used simultaneously to study cetaceans distribution and abundance in the Sine Saloum:
- From a big dugout, specially equipped with a 2.5 m platform above water level for two observators, we will carry out a study by line transects. The transects have been pre-defined in order to cover different sound (bolong) sizes following a gradient covering coastal areas, the main river inlets but also a more intern small bolong network of the Sine Saloum.
- Simultaneously, when groups of dolphins will be observed, a photo-identification work (identification of each individual from the form and notches on the dorsal fin) will be carried out from the second dugout. The population size will then be evaluated using capture-recapture models.
The results will be analysed in France at the CEBC-CNRS during spring 2005 and the Senegalese student who participated in the mission will be invited to participate in the processing of the data collected during that mission. The scientific report of this mission will be an estimation of population size and a distribution map from the results obtained during this mission. These results will be online on our website during the second half of 2005.
The survey operations will take place during
5 to 6 hours every day split in two periods of 2 to 3 hours. The observator
team and the person in charge of taking data will relay every hour.
The rest of the day would be dedicated to resting and walking discovery of Sine
Saloum's islands, villages and their inhabitants (www.senegalia.com).
At night we will be camping in tents or sleeping in camps on diferent islands
of the archipelago. Besides the persons participating in the scientific training
of this expedition, we will be accompanied by a guide, François Xavier
Diatta, a cooker and two dugouter but everybody is invited to participate in
collective tasks (mounting and dismounting of the tents, charging the dugouts,
etc.).
Camping in tents
Program
Saturday 29th January 2005
Arrival in Dakar, taking in charge directly at the airport and night at the Oceanium with Haïdar El Ali; he will present his actions of marine environment protection, Marine Protected Areas settings and fishermen sensibilisation to collective measures on sustainable management of marine ressources.
Sunday 30th January
Transfer to the South of Saloum in Bandalia's shelter, on the edge of Fatala's classified forest. Night dedicated to the presentation of the work done, areas covered and techniques used. Night in Bandalia's shelter.
Monday 31st January
Gradation of distances and angles estimated for the line transects method. Start of the survey, beginning with Bandalia's bolong and then going along the coast to go explore Soukoto's bolong. Night in tents.
Tuesday 1st February
Exploration of Diombos, Labor and Guilor Bolongs. Night in tent or in a camp.
Wednesday 2nd February
Diombos Bolong, Diogane Bolong and Gokehor. Night in tents.
Thursday 3rd February
Going up along the coast to Saloum's river to carry out survey in the river and Fambine's channel.
Friday 4th February
Continuing the survey of Saloum's river and passage through N’dangane. Stop and night in Mar Fafaco camp.
Saturday 5th February
Rest in the morning before returning to Dakar in the afternoon to take the plane.
Practical information
Number of places available:
10 places
Cost per person:
750 € (without plane ticket, dinner on saturday night in case and drinks)
To book your place:
To book your flight ticket:
Agency:
AUTREPART
34 rue de la paix
37 000 TOURS
FRANCE
Tel: 02.47.64.05.93
Email: voyageurs@autrepart.net