History of the Marine Mammal Study in Taiwan(Part One Collection Building)

Two orders of marine mammals have been noted in Taiwan, Sirenia and Cetacea. Of the first order, evidence suggests only one species, Dugong dugon was known from Taiwan waters. Three specimens (only one was from Taiwan) have been collected by Japanese researchers during the period when Japanese governed Taiwan, in the early 20th century. Since then, no record of this species has been found. There are at least 29 species of cetaceans confirmed in Taiwan, including 6 species of baleen whales and 23 species of toothed whales. The first skeleton specimen was a fin whale collected by a British naturalist Swinhoe (Gray, 1865). Three periods-early, middle and current are recognized for the marine mammal researches in Taiwan. During the early period (1924-1952), studies on cetaceans were carried out mainly by Japanese researchers. Three articles were published on taxonomy and 11 species in total were recorded. During the middle period (1956-1989), three Taiwanese researchers, Yang, Chen, and Chou accomplished some studies besides Japanese researchers (Nishiwaki, Tobayama and Kasuya). In total, they confirmed 26 species of cetaceans. After 1990, the status of cetaceans in Taiwan improved dramatically, giving rise to an increasing variety of fields of study as well as burgeoning interest and implementation of conservation activities. After national and international media reports of the commercial drive fishing and slaughtering dolphins off the Peng-Hu Islands in the spring of 1990, all cetacean species were added to the list of protected wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Law passed in 1989. The listing stimulated research and conservation of cetaceans. A group of local scientists began studying cetaceans. The studies of cetaceans could be grouped into seven major fields: taxonomy, ecology, basic biology, veterinary medicine, pollutant accumulation, the impact of whale watching and the interaction between cetaceans and fishery. At least, 12 reviewed publications, 21 theses (2 Bachelors, 17 M. S., and 2 Ph. D.), 25 governmental reports, and around 100 symposia or workshop papers have been published so far. During the period when these researches have taken place, many public workshops and symposia combined with media coverage of stranding events have resulted in a rising public awareness of Taiwan's cetaceans populations. In November, 1996, a nation-wide organization, the Taiwan Cetacean Stranding Network (TCSN) was organized by government and non-governmental agencies to respond to stranded cetaceans, executing rescue operations wherever possible. Since then, about 250 marine mammal strandings have been reported and assessed, and rehabilitation was attempted on more than 30 animals. Three rehabilitated dolphins have been released to the wild since 2000. I believe the information from a multitude of disciplines, including ecological, behavioral, physiological and veterinary sciences of cetaceans will expand in the near future, due to the work of a diverse and devoted group of people.