Database of Cetacean Stranding Records around Hainan Island

The cetacean biodiversity in China is high. Every year, lots of cetacean stranding cases are reported at different coastal cities in China. However, till now, no database for collection and analysis of cetacean stranding information is established; so these information, which are important for cetacean study and conservation, are wasted as a consequence. The Database of Cetacean Stranding Records around Hainan Island (DCSRHI) is established now for collecting cetacean stranding information around Hainan Island. The data collection time scope is from 1993; and the collection content includes stranding time, stranding site, scientific name, gender, body length, body mass, stranding reason, and information source, etc. The DCSRHI is a basic support for the study of cetacean flora, spatio-temporal distribution, biology, ecology, and impacts of human activities on cetaceans. The DCSHI will service on marine mammal scientists, environmentalists and the governments; furthermore, DCSH is help for the establishment of national cetacean stranding database of China.