POPULATION SIZES OF BRYDE'S WHALE (BALAENOPTERA EDENI) IN THE UPPER GULF OF THAILAND, ESTIMATED BY MARK AND RECAPTURE METHOD

Abstract

The population size of Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Upper Gulf of Thailand was estimated using mark and recapture method, during the period of January 2010 to December 2013. Forty-five whales were observed by identifying distinctive markings. Using the M(bh)-Pollock and Otto model in the Program CAPTURE and CJS model in the Program MARK, Bryde's whale population size and survival rate probability estimations were 63±8.48 (S.E.) animals and 0.88±0.04 (S.E.) respectively. Although the size of Bryde's whales population in the Upper Gulf was small, the likely trend is towards population increasing. Program MARK and CAPTURE have been utilized as tools for summarizing the status of animals after long-term monitoring.