TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — There are just 45 to 50 Taiwanese white dolphins and about 60% of them show signs of injury, according to John Wang (王愈超), a professor at Trent University's Biology Department and a researcher at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. 

The Taiwan Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association held a press conference Thursday to provide an update on the critically endangered dolphins. Wang, who is recognized as the first international scholar to scientifically monitor the species, shared insights from his long-term research at the event, per CNA.

When Wang and his team first began their surveys in 2002, the population of the dolphins was estimated at around 99 individuals. However, the species has since been declining at a rate of approximately 3% to 4% annually. Due to the small population size and ongoing decline, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the species as critically endangered. 

Wang explained that dolphins reproduce slowly, and for Taiwanese white dolphins, their birth rate is far too low to keep up with their decline, especially since they can only give birth to one calf at a time. Although dolphins can live up to 40 years, he warned the species could face extinction if fewer than five males remain.

Coastal development in Taiwan is one of the main reasons for this decline, Wang said. He noted that 90% of the dolphins pass through the waters near Taichung Port, where a major reclamation project is underway. 

The plan, which involves reclaiming about 160 hectares of land to install eight LNG storage tanks and expand the breakwater, would cause severe damage to the dolphins’ habitat. Wang’s team has also observed dolphins swimming increasingly faster when passing near the port area, which indicates that ongoing construction and vessel traffic are significantly disturbing the animals.

Offshore wind farms, coastal LNG facilities, and underwater noise are also threats to the survival of the dolphins, Wang added. According to the Taiwan Cetacean Society, offshore wind turbines generate significant noise during installation and operation. For white dolphins, which rely on echolocation to navigate and hunt, this noise can cause hearing damage and interfere with their ability to communicate with one another.

Wang also noted that keeping the dolphins in captivity is not a good solution. Dolphins are highly social animals, he explained, and many individuals that are bred or raised in captivity may struggle to adapt if released back into the wild.