An educational outreach strategy for freshwater dolphin conservation: measuring the results

Published source details Mansur E.F., Akhtar F. & Smith B.D. (2014) An educational outreach strategy for freshwater dolphin conservation: measuring the results. Pages 17-24 in: R.K. Sinha & B. Ahmed (eds.) Rivers for Life - Proceedings of the International Symposium on River Biodiversity: Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River System. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Educate the public to improve behaviour towards marine and freshwater mammals Action Link

Educate the public to improve behaviour towards marine and freshwater mammals

A before-and-after study in 2011–2013 of 12 villages near the Sundarbans mangroves, Bangladesh (Mansur et al. 2014) reported that after an educational exhibition, the number of fishers willing to cut their fishing nets to save entangled freshwater dolphins increased. Results are not based on assessments of statistical significance. After the exhibition, 98% of fishers stated that they were willing to cut their nets to save entangled dolphins, compared to 83% before the exhibition. A month-long boat-based educational exhibition visited villages adjacent to three sanctuaries for Ganges River dolphins Platanista gangetica and Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris. Trained interpreters guided visitors through the exhibition comprising informative panels, interactive displays and educational films about dolphins. In 2011–2013, yearly interviews were conducted in 12 villages visited by the exhibition 1–3 times (total 603 participants).

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)