CMS is pleased to make available in electronic format through its Web Site a review report on small cetaceans' distribution, behaviour, migration and threat, prepared by Prof. Boris Culik.

The present version of the report constitutes a revision of a first version produced by the same Boris Culik for CMS in 2001. It is not intended to be a final version though. A major purpose of making it available online at this stage is to submit it to the review of a wider audience, from which obtaining further comments in view of its publication. Visitors of the site are therefore strongly encouraged to submit to the author and the UNEP/CMS Secretariat their suggestions and remarks, which will be duly considered and acknowledged in the further revision of the report.

The report covers species of the order Cetacea, suborder Odontoceti with the exception of the Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus. It is organized in individual species accounts, summarizing available information on the distribution, population size (including discrete population units when possible), elements of biology and behaviour of relevance for the conservation of the species, migration, threats, and recommendations on research and conservation needs for the species. Individual species accounts are made available as and when they are revised. The report was conceived with the main objective of providing the CMS Secretariat, other CMS statutory bodies and the Parties with an up to date and comprehensive review of available information on small cetacean migration and related conservation issues on a worldwide scale, but is expected to be of interest to a wider audience.[ click here to view the Report on Small Cetaceans ]