Study of 'declining' deep-sea dolphins secures funding

Conservationists hope to gain an increased understanding of why an elusive species of dolphin appears to be falling in numbers off the Western Isles.

Risso's dolphins favour deep-water habitats, which makes them difficult to study.

Marine mammal group Mara has secured £13,974 funding towards an 11-month monitoring project in the North-East Lewis Marine Protected Area.

Mara has noted a decline in sightings of the dolphins since 2019, with strandings in shallow waters among the possible causes.

Individual dolphins can be identified by their scars - some them the result of hunting squid and octopus - and the shape and notches on their fins.

Mara has noted a fall in numbers through analysis of photo-ID data.

It plans to use drones to capture images of dolphins, and any previously undocumented behaviour.

The Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF) awarded Mara a grant from a round funding totalling £109,393.

Other projects to receive support includes Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise.

It has been given £10,000 towards protecting fragile dune habitats along the town's sea shore.

RSPB Scotland has been awarded more than £9,200 to monitor critically-threatened Greenland white-fronted geese in Caithness.

It will use audio recorders and camera traps to assist surveys of the birds.

Charity Knocknagael Ltd has been given £15,000 towards creating a wild flower-rich urban wetland in Inverness.