On Friday, 19.04.2024 from 18:30 - 20:30 our annual general meeting took place in the Naturkundehaus of the Nuremberg Zoo and online via Zoom. Dr. Lorenzo von Fersen (1st Chairman YAQU PACHA e.V.) led through the event and we had again invited 5 of our biologists or partners from South America and the USA to report on our cooperation and joint projects.
Prof. Eduardo Secchi from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande FURG - ECOMEGA made the start. We already have a 28-year partnership and 25 years of protecting the La Plata dolphin - Franciscana - Toninha(Pontoporia blainvillei). Prof. Secchi emphasized once again that the greatest dangers for the La Plata dolphin lie in bycatch and that we are continuing to work together to reduce the bycatch of this endangered dolphin species. The work at the university and contacts with government circles are now also opening up contacts with political decision-makers. Prof. Secchi announced that there will be talks in April 2024 about the establishment of a marine national park in Brazil, which would be crucial for the protection of the La Plata dolphin.
The next speaker was Dr. Aricia Duarte-Benvenuto from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is a veterinarian and part of the rehabilitation group for La Plata dolphins. For stranded La Plata dolphins, this group of specialists has been set up throughout the range of the La Plata dolphin to rescue stranded Franciscana dolphins - Toninhas - and rehabilitate them in specially equipped facilities. The work of this group is divided into 3 areas of expertise, rehabilitation, nutrition(special milk) and the examination of the dead animals (necropsy). Ms. Duarte-Benvenuto emphasized once again the significant progress that has already been made by these working groups and the importance of the exchange between veterinarians.
Dr. Federico Sucunza GEMARS then reported on our joint project to reduce bycatch of La Plata dolphins - Franciscana - Toninha and the Lahille dolphin. A simple and inexpensive method is used in which empty plastic bottles (filled with air) are mounted in the fishing nets. The air trapped in the bottles reflects the echolocation sounds of the dolphins and the dolphins recognize the fishing nets as an obstacle and avoid them. Dr. Sucunza reported an 85% reduction in bycatch among fishermen using this method. Discussions with fishermen and fishing communities are therefore an important part of our project in order to advise them and convince them of this method.
The next speaker was Dr. Cynthia Smith, President and CEO of the National Marine Mammal Foundation NMMF in the USA. Ms. Smith presented the GRACE operation, which focuses on the education and training of veterinarians (capacity building). We have been working together successfully for many years and there have already been several joint workshops to train veterinarians who can then be deployed in various areas to rescue and rehabilitate animals. The focus here is on the rescue and rehabilitation of the La Plata dolphins and the Amazon river dolphins(Inia geoffrensis). Last year, for example, the teams worked together to rescue the river dolphins in Lago Tefé in Brazil.
Dr. Pedro Fruet PROJETO BOTOS, KAOSA then presented our project to save the last 600 Lahille's Bottlenose dolphins(Tursiops gephyreus). He began with a review of the project and reported that work began 50 years ago in Brazil to protect this endangered dolphin species. Dr. Fruet explained the milestones that have been achieved in the course of the project through our cooperation. In order to be able to work even more effectively and specifically on the protection of this highly endangered dolphin species, a 5-year action plan to save the Lahille dolphin has now been developed, which we will now implement together.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all partners, members and supporters of YAQU PACHA. It is only with your help that we are able to work successfully on our species conservation projects.
The minutes of the YAQU PACHA Annual General Meeting will also be available here on our website shortly.