Research Article

Rediscovery of Cameroon Dolphin, the Gulf of Guinea Population of Sousa teuszii (Kükenthal, 1892)

Table 1

 Details of visual survey effort for Cameroon dolphin on the coast of Cameroon, from 07 to 28 May, 2011.

DateDeparture pointDestination (arrival time)EffortComments

Boat-based surveys Total: 259.1 km (1008 min)
17/05/11Campo, N02°22.861′, E09°49.465′ (09:25 h)Ebodjé, N02°34.550′, E09°49.497′ (13:00 h) 22.5 km (215 min)Coastal strip Campo-Ebodjé. 2 observers, small canoe, 8 HP outboard
21/05/11Limbé, N04°00.012′, E09°12.551′ (09:40 h)N04°00.012′, E09°12.551′ (11:05 h)20.2 km
(85 min)
Limbé harbour and environs. 2 observers, canoe, 40 HP outboard
23/05/11Mouanko, N03°38.371′, E09°48.060′ (14:54)Mbiako, N03°35.317′, E09°38.934′ (16:28)33.91 km (94 min)Downriver Sanaga and short estuary excursion; 3 observers, fibreglass boat; 40 HP outboard
24/05/11Mbiako, N03°35.317′, E09°38.934′ (10:30 h)Sitan, N03°28.347′, E09°44.183′ and return to Mbiako (13:14)42.56 km (164 min)100–200 m off beach, return 300–500 m off beach; 3 observers, fibreglass boat, 40 HP
24/05/11Mbiako, N03°35.317′, E09°38.934′ (14:27)Bolondo, N03°48.731, E09°33.470′ (16:23 h)35.65 km (116 min)150–300 m off beach, 3 observers, fibreglass boat, 40 HP
25/05/11Bolondo, N03°48.731, E09°33.470′ (09:15)Manoka N03°52.004′, E09°37.761′ (12:00 h), penins.tip, N03°49.273′, E09°32.711′ (14:57)50.88 km (201 min)Survey of main creeks and estuary, 3 observers, fibreglass boat, 40 HP
26/05/11Bolondo, N03°48.731, E09°33.470′ (11:41 h)Mouanko, N03°38.371′, E09°48.060′ (13:54 h)53.40 km
(133 min)
Coastal strip; 13:03 h entering Sanaga river and upriver survey.

Beach-based surveys Total: 30.52 km (784 min)
16/05/11River Ntem mouth (06:00 h)River Ntem estuary, right bank (07:30 h)0 km (90 min)1 observer, stationary position
16/05/11N02°21.104′, E09°49.397′ (10:20 h)N02°24.384′, E09°49.345′ (14:35 h)6.45 km (255 min)2 observers, on foot, NE direction
16/05/11N02°24.384′, E09°49.345′ (14:35 h)N02°22.861′, E09°49.465′ (15:45 h)2.95 km (70 min)2, on foot, SW direction
17/05/11N02°21.104′, E09°49.397′ (07:30 h)N02°22.861′, E09°49.465′ (08:35 h)3.50 km (65 min)2, on foot, NE direction, low tide
19/05/11Idenau, N04°13.045′, E08°59.133′ (10:25 h)N04°13.629′, E08°58.537′ and return to Idenau (11:55 h)3.75 km (90 min)3, on foot, NW/NE, rising tide
19/05/11Seme, N04°03.358′, E09°03.181′ (15:06 h)N04°03.579′, E09°02.726′ and return 2.22 km (86 min)2, on foot, high tide
25/05/11Northern tip peninsula, N03°49.273′, E09°32.711′ (15:12 h)N03°47.722′E09°33.724′ and return to Bolondo, N03°48.731, E09°33.470′ (18:20)11.65 km (128 min)2, on foot