WWF Hong Kong and many other researchers working on dolphins and whales use the photo identification technique to study these mammals in the wild.

In the past, researchers used to capture and tagged the dolphins for identifications. However, the dolphins or even the researchers themselves could get hurt easily. As such biologists have developed the photo identification technique to keep records of individual dolphins. Researchers use auto-focus cameras with long lens that gather lots of lights to take pictures of the dolphins in the wild. By looking at the pictures and recognizing the scars and dorsal fins each dolphin individual can be identified.

Photo identification technique does not come cheap; sophisticated cameras are needed to generate large amount of good quality images. The more and the better pictures can help researchers identify each individual dolphins.

By using this technique, lots of pictures of the dolphins need to be taken and expensive camera is a must! It is because good and clear photos can help the researchers to identify the individual dolphins more easily!