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Ecological modelling showed only 23.4% of the species’ suitable habitat falls within recognised Marine Protected Areas or Important Marine Mammal Areas.
“The Kozhikode stranding provided a rare opportunity to study the wide-ridged finless porpoise in the Arabian Sea,” said Dr Manokaran Kamalakannan, scientist at ZSI, who led the recovery and documentation. He said preserving the complete skeleton would allow the specimen to support scientific research and education for years. Kolkata: A rare finless porpoise stranded on Kozhikode beach has helped scientists uncover genetic differences between Arabian Sea and Pacific populations, while highlighting gaps in protection of its coastal habitat. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Pukyong National University, South Korea, studied the wide-ridged Indo-Pacific finless porpoise ( Neophocaena phocaenoides ) using anatomical examination, mitochondrial genome sequencing and ecological niche modelling. The study, published in Ecology and Evolution , found significant genetic differences between the Arabian Sea specimen and Pacific popoulations, suggesting possible distinct Indian Ocean sub-populations and the need for wider genetic sampling. Scientists flagged coastal development, accidental capture in fishing nets, vessel collisions and marine pollution as threats. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata