Reproduction
Mating won’t occur until these dolphins are older. For the females it is about 10 years of age and for the males it is about 14 years of age. This later mating process is one of the concerns for their future. When large numbers of them are being depleted, it is taking a very long time to get those numbers back up, even with conservation efforts in place.
It isn’t known for sure if there is a particular season when mating occurs for these dolphins. After mating, the young calf is born about 100 days later. Only one is born at a time and it will be born tail first. It can be about 39 inches long when it is born. The young will drink milk from the mother which helps it to gain weight rapidly. The young are surrounded by the pod members so they are well protected on the inside of it. In the wild, the Rough-Toothed Dolphin can live from 32 to 36 years.
Conservation Status and Threats
It is estimated that there are about 150,000 of these dolphins living in the Eastern Pacific location. There are others out there but getting a good count on their numbers is hard to do. The biggest risk for them is getting tangled up in fishing nets. They can get injured or they can end up drowning as they won’t be able to surface for air. Some of the conservation efforts involve better equipment to prevent this from happening.
In many locations, this particular dolphin is hunted for the meat it can offer. Pollution is also a risk factor as it can create a variety of health issues for the Rough-Toothed Dolphin. Efforts in place to limit hunting and to reduce pollution continue.
(source:google/http://www.dolphins-world.com/)
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