Introduction

Chinese White Dolphin (CWD), scientifically known as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis), belong to the dolphin family (Delphinidae). It is a fully aquatic coastal marine mammal that breathes through lungs at the surface of the sea, and is highly intelligent and capable of engaging in a variety of social behaviors.

The CWD was first recorded in the Pearl River Estuary by explorer Peter Mundy in 1637. Interest in this species grew in the late 1980s when environmentalists began to raise awareness about the presence of Chinese White Dolphins in Hong Kong waters.

Since 1990s, long term ecological monitoring of CWD in Hong Kong has been conducted with contributions from relevant experts and institutes.