Students get funding to protect rare dolphin

 ExxonMobil PNG Limited, operator of the PNGLNG project, has provided K350,000 to support three postgraduate Papua New Guinea students. 

The scholarships are to support the research work carried out to protect and conserve a dolphin species only found in the Kikori Delta.

The scholarship for a Masters programme goes to Elizah Nagombi, who will start with course work at the James Cook University this month. 

The two Honours recipients are Wilma Mavera and Monica Kolkia. 

Both will start their programme at the University of Papua New Guinea. 

The scholarships are initiated under a programme led by the two universities to research and conserve the dolphin species Orcaella heinsohni.   

The project also seeks to establish what other marine mammals are in the Kikori Delta and work with locals to develop a community-based management plan to enable their long-term conservation.

James Cook University researcher Dr Isabel Beasley said the Kikori Delta was the remotest region where she had studied inshore dolphins.

“Thankfully, ExxonMobil PNG has funded the project, which allows us to charter a live-aboard vessel to safely conduct surveys, and most importantly, engage local counterparts and students in the project,” Beasley said. “The Kikori Delta is the only region in the Pacific Islands and West Papua where the Orcaella heinsohni are found. 

“So the population is considered a regional priority for research and conservation.”

ExxonMobil PNG managing director Andrew Barry said investing in these types of research programmes was ExxonMobil’s long-term approach to preserving Papua New Guinea’s unique environment.