Reactions of Heaviside’s dolphins to tagging attempts using remotely-deployed suction-cup tags

Abstract

Tagging attempts of Heaviside’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii ) using a remotely-deployed suction-cup tag were performed in Table Bay and St Helena Bay on the southwest coast of South Africa. The observed reactions of dolphins indicate that this tagging approach has negligible impacts on the dolphin behaviour and Heaviside’s dolphins might be tagged with suction cup tags without adverse affects.