Reproduction
There isn’t very much information known about reproduction for the Commerson’s Dolphin. The age of maturity can range from 5 to 9 years, with the females ready for mating before the males in the same habitat. Mating can occur from September through February. When it will occur depends on their location. It takes 12 months after mating for the young to arrive, and it will be a single calf born in the winter tail first.
The young will drink milk from the mother’s body for a period of time, but it isn’t determined when they are weaned. With other species of dolphins it is generally between 12 and 18 months of age. In the wild, the Commerson’s Dolphin has a lifespan of about 10 years. In captivity the average is 18 years.
Conservation Status and Threats
The last survey conducted in 1984 estimated at least 3,400 of them in the Strait of Magellan. However, it isn’t known what the overall population is for them today. Even so, there are efforts in place to help ensure that they don’t see depleted number and end up vulnerable or extinct. They are red listed as a threatened species.
Such conservation efforts have focused on reducing pollution, reducing the risk of the Commerson’s Dolphin getting caught up in commercial fishing nets, and reducing issues with noise around them which can increase their overall stress levels. Other efforts focus on reducing the threat of these dolphins being hunted for their meat and oil. They have also been hunted to use as bait for crab capture. However, enforcing laws to prevent such hunting can be very hard.
(source:google/http://www.dolphins-world.com/)
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