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Data

Survey of Coastal Dolphin Species (Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis)) in Kakadu National Park 

Ver: 1
Status of Data: completed
Update Frequency: notPlanned
Security Classification: unclassified
Dataset Published: 2014-07-28
Dataset Last Modified: 2026-08-18
Metadata viewed 143 times
Dataset accessed 6 times
Metadata Created: 2022-09-20
Metadata Last Modified: 2026-08-19
How to cite this collection:
Director of National Parks (2014). Survey of Coastal Dolphin Species (Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis)) in Kakadu National Park. Version 1. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. https://dx.doi.org/10.4227/05/53D5B076C815D 
Data can be accessed from the following links:
HTTPKNP_coastal_design
HTTPKNP_Map_coastal_dolphin_sighting
HTTPPoint-of-truth metadata URL
HTTPro-crate-metadata.json
The dataset contains a record of coastal dolphin- Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis)) species sighted, total number of individuals, and group/school size in Kakadu National Park rivers between March 2007 to August 2011. 
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. The project was undertaken jointly with the NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment, Arts and Sport (now the Department of Land Resource Management). 
Purpose
Kakadu National Park (KNP), covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, is located 240 kilometres east of Darwin in Australia's tropical north. Coastal dolphins inhabit harbours, bays and estuaries and can be impacted by human activities in those areas. A boat-based survey was undertaken of two rare coastal dolphins in Kakadu National Park: the Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis). The East and the South Alligator Rivers were surveyed between 2007-2011 and the West Alligator and Wildman Rivers were surveyed between 2010-2011. The objectives of the research were to record the distribution of these dolphin species, investigate habitat use, and determine important foraging areas. The project was undertaken as a collaboration between the NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport and Kakadu National Park. Surveys were undertaken on the estuarine sections of East, South and West Alligator Rivers and the Wildman River. 
Lineage
Data not provided. 
Method DocumentationData not provided.
Procedure StepsData not provided.
Spatial Description
Surveys were undertaken on the estuarine sections of East, South and West Alligator Rivers and the Wildman River. IBRA region: Arnhem Coast Darwin Coastal 
Temporal Coverage
From 2007-03-23 to 2011-08-16 
Spatial Resolution

Data not provided.

Vertical Extent

Data not provided.

Australian Faunal Directory
Orcaella_heinsohni
Sousa
ANZSRC - FOR
Animal behaviour
Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Population ecology
Data Stream
Coastal
GCMD Sciences
ANIMAL SCIENCE - ANIMAL ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES - MARINE MAMMALS
PALEOCLIMATE INDICATORS - FAUNA
Horizontal Resolution
10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Parameters
field species name
latitude
longitude
school size
Project
Others
Temporal Resolution
Weekly - < Monthly
Topic
biota
User Defined
Behavioural Ecology
Kakadu National Park
Long-Term Species Monitoring
Population Dynamics
Species Decline
Author
Director of National Parks
Contact Point
Winderlich, Steve
Director of National Parks
Publisher
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia.
Contact Us
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The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license allows others to copy, distribute, display, and create derivative works provided that they credit the original source and any other nominated parties. Details are provided at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 
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Please advise any work or publications that use this data via the online form at https://www.tern.org.au/research-publications/#reporting 
(C)2014 Director of National Parks (Parks Australia). Rights owned by Director of National Parks (Parks Australia). 
Please cite this dataset as {Author} ({PublicationYear}). {Title}. {Version, as appropriate}. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. {Identifier}.