The Humpbacks of Goa

Written by Imran Samad,  Dakshin Foundation

Along India’s west coast, the Arabian Sea meets fishing villages, river mouths, tourism beaches and busy ports. These areas also happen to be home to one of the country’s least-

known yet endangered animals - the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Most people visiting

Goa have seen dolphins but very few know what they are. Through our film we hope to

change that by helping everyone learn about the fantastic creatures that reside so close to

their homes yet remain a mystery.

The humpbacks of Goa, India (c) Imran Samad

Goa supports some of the highest densities of humpback dolphins in the world! A mere

coastline of 120 km hosts about 300-500 dolphins that rarely venture beyond 2 km offshore.

For many visitors, a dolphin sighting is a holiday highlight - a moment of joy. But for the

dolphins, these same waters are not a spectacle; they are home - a nursery, an important

feeding ground. Despite high levels of noise, pollution, intensifying fisheries and tourism,

dolphins occur in Goa throughout the year, supporting India’s oldest and one of the few

dolphin-watching industries. However, this intensification of human footprint on the coast

coincides with a severe decline in the dolphin population over the past few decades. Each

year more than 40 dolphins die in Goa, of which many may be a result of human activities.

Such numbers may not be sustainable in the long term. If we wish for Goa to remain a

stronghold for the dolphins, we must act now. Developing conservation guidelines that

minimize impacts on dolphins without compromising the livelihoods of the locals that depend

on the very same waters is critical. These need only be simple actions designed by local

associations, such as limiting the distance to which boats can approach dolphin groups;

ensuring boats do not chase dolphins and their numbers around each group are limited;

compensating fishers for nets damaged by dolphins.

"Guaranteed" dolphin sightings by boat operators excite tourists and locals alike, but a lack of uniform tourism guidelines can hinder dolphin activity and even cause injury (c) Imran Samad

However, implementing even simple conservation actions can be challenging when many

stakeholders share the same space. Protecting dolphins requires collective care and

cooperation - and that is why we made this film. By bringing people a little closer to the

dolphins, we hope to spark curiosity and wonder that can grow into empathy and

stewardship. As more people begin to understand and value these animals, we can create

stronger platforms for dialogue and meaningful change, ultimately helping ensure that these

remarkable dolphins continue to survive in our waters.

You can watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvygQG-GFHs