White Harbor Porpoise Appears at the Georgian Coastline of the Black Sea
White dolphins are rarely seen on our planet. For instance, in the last 100 years scientists have only documented six white harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) anywhere in the world. Two of them were from the Black Sea: they were found in 1928 and 1937 years. The Black Sea Harbor Porpoise is recognized as a subspecies (Phocoena phocoena relicta) with the morphological and genetic differences from P. phocoena populations elsewhere in the world. The Black Sea subspecies Phocoena phocoena relicta listed as endangered on IUCN Red List (The International Union for Conservation of Nature). That’s why the conservation of the mentioned subspecies is of primary importance to the whole species and the Black Sea marine ecosystem.
On 23 June 2012, a white harbor porpoise was first sighted and shot in the territorial waters of Georgia by the researchers of Ilia State University. The aim of the research is the ecological study of the Black Sea Dolphin species. It is carried out within the framework of the program for the Ecology and Conservation of the Large Mammals, Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University. The work was started in 2009. Both professors and graduate students are participating in the fieldworks.
The white porpoise was seen between the mouths of the Rioni and Khobi rivers, on the territory of Kolkheti National Park. It was swimming with other 4 normally pigmented harbor porpoises. The calf was detected near them. The presence of the calf indicates that it was a females group.
The white harbor porpoise was named Khatia after the student who first saw her. Khatia is adult animal; upper part of the body is snowy white with dark edge on the dorsal fin and dark spot in front of the blowhole. The presence of the dark pigments point out that this anima is not true albino but has hypo-pigmentation (the lack of pigmentation).
Because anomalously white dolphins are rarely seen little is known about the ecological and physiological effects of hypo-pigmentation. Potentially negative effects include a reduced ability of thermoregulation: it would be difficult to maintain body temperature in the cold water. For researchers, white harbor porpoise is a natural “marker” for the group which facilitates the study of group movement, structure and habitat preferences.
Research group members: Professors: Natia Kopaliani, Zurab Gurielidze. Graduate Students: Khatia basilashvili, George Lemonjava, Mirza Modebadze, Mariam Gabelaia, Mikheil Potskishvili and Mamuka Modebadze, Head of Marine Machinery Department of ISU.