In a breakthrough for marine science, researchers at the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) have captured the first-ever drone footage of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin (Sousa plumbea) mating behavior in India — and in Asia. Conducted during a 2024–25 survey off the Kochi coast, the study delivered an unprecedented three-minute video featuring a complete copulatory cycle lasting 24–29 seconds, along with distinctive pre-copulatory rituals such as the species’ characteristic circular swimming patterns.

“This footage offers unprecedented insight into the reproductive and social lives of one of the most elusive marine mammals,” said Dr. George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT. He noted that drone-based observation enables accurate, disturbance-free study of species critical to marine biodiversity, opening new frontiers for wildlife research in sensitive habitats.

The humpback dolphin — locally known as Paandan Panni — is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The documentation provides vital baseline reproductive data for the species in Indian waters, creates a new evidence base to inform national marine mammal protection policies, and establishes a technological model for non-invasive observation of sensitive wildlife.

The survey was conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to build a national database on marine mammal populations. The findings, published in Regional Studies in Marine Science, mark a milestone in marine conservation, positioning India as a regional leader in deploying advanced drone technology for the protection of endangered marine life.