Additional note on humpback whale presence in Indonesia. For all of us working on improving the protective management for cetaceans in Indonesia, the 'knowledge gap' on marine mammal species and habitat use within the archipelago remains a major challenge. This week's entanglement and stranding of a juvenile humpback whale, as reported by Pariama and Icha, may indeed be the first report for Bali. However humpback whales have previously been sighted and photographed in east Indonesian waters. Indeed, an adult was harpooned and killed (see photo) by the traditional whaling community of Lamalera on Lembata Island in the 2006 season or 'lefa'. This was a highly exceptional event as the Lamalera community routinely targets sperm whales and other odontocetes. These recent sightings in Indonesian waters, coupled with reported increases in numbers of humpbacks migrating north along the NW Australian coast, could indicate (part of) this population is 'recolonizing' an original, pre-whaling habitat in the NE Indian Ocean or is expanding its range - and as such may be increasingly at risk of the numerous cetacean-fisheries interactions while in Indonesian waters. It will be interesting to see if sightings continue in coming seasons and we are looking forward to collaborate with humpback whale projects in the region. Regards, Benjamin Kahn NB: Photo by APEX Environmental; Courtesy of Ibu Keraf, Lamalera, Lembata. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Benjamin Kahn bkahn@apex-environmental.com Director APEX Environmental Asia-Pacific Oceanic Cetacean Program Suite 104 Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 379 Sanur - 80228, Bali INDONESIA
