Sousa chinensis
Humpback dolphins are a rare species that can be found along South Africa’s east coast. Most people are not familiar with the Humpback Dolphin, which looks quite similar to its better-known cousin, the Bottlenose Dolphin.

The main identification feature of this species is the hump on its back and small dorsal fin. Humpback Dolphins are more robust than Bottlenose Dolphins (they appear to be a little overweight) and have quite long rostrums (noses). They inhabit shallow water and are rarely found in water that is deeper than 20m. This means that they have a very narrow distribution that hugs the coastline. They are often found just behind the breaking waves.

Humpback Dolphins live in murky water. A study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal showed that the highest concentration of the species is on the shallow Tugela Bank. The bank stretches from the Tugela River to St. Lucia and its waters is extremely unclear. Estuaries are very important habitats for Humpback Dolphins.

The species lives in small groups (average of 7) unlike most other dolphins keeping in larger groups. The biggest Humpback Dolphin group ever seen comprised 25 dolphins. It’s not unusual to come across a single Humpback Dolphin or a mother-calf pair on their own.

Humpback Dolphins have been listed as vulnerable in South Africa. In KwaZulu-Natal, shark nets and the building and expansion of harbours and marinas in estuarine ecosystems, pose the biggest threats to the species. Additional threats include habitat destruction caused by the removal of mangrove trees, poor farming practises and water mismanagement that results in the degradation of rivers and estuaries and ultimately siltation in the nearshore environment. Toxins entering the marine ecosystem (from marine pollution and pesticide-use on land) also negatively affect these animals.