Endangered finless porpoises spotted off coast of Taean

The screenshots from the video show porpoises mating behavior in the sea off the coast of Taean, South Chungcheong Province. The video, which was filmed in April, was released Sept. 3. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment

By Hwang Dong-hee

Four endangered finless porpoises have been spotted mating in the sea near Taeanhaean National Park, South Chungcheong Province, according to the Korea National Park Service (KNPS).

In the rare footage released on Sept. 3, three porpoises swam around one porpoise ― as if competing with each other. Later, two of them left the group and glided, swiveling and belly-flopping with one another.

A team sets up a "helikite," an unmanned aerial camera first introduced to observe marine life here since October 2020. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment

The video was taken in mid-April, which is normally their mating season, using a "helikite," a kind of unmanned aerial camera drone-like device used to observe marine animals.

The KNPS researchers estimate that they are about 1.5 to 2 meters long and over four years old.

The porpoise, classified under the family Phocoenidae, looks similar to a dolphin, but it has a round head instead of a protruding beak.

Inhabiting the coast of the Asian Continent, the marine mammals swim in shallow waters of about 50 meters in depth and are very wary of people, which makes sightings of them uncommon.

Researchers hope this video will provide some clues into the reproductive ecology of the animals.

"The porpoise is an internationally endangered species whose population is gradually decreasing due to being caught in commercial fishing nets. We are planning to systematically examine its population, distribution and behavior to preserve its habitat and marine ecosystem," said Choi Seung-woon, director of the Korea National Park Research Institute.

Since February 1979, porpoises were recognized under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) under threat of extinction. They are protected against illegal trade or over-exploitation through the international trade of wild animals.

A porpoise swimming in this undated file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

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