Analysis of cetacean stranding and bycatch records based on mainstream online short video platforms

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150934

Abstract

Abstract:

Citizen science plays a crucial role in wildlife research and conservation. While traditional citizen science typically involves systematic collection of wildlife records, the temporary observation data from online short video platforms provide valuable resources for ‘passive citizen science’. This study collects all the videos about cetacean stranding and bycatch events in China from 2017 to February 2024 from four mainstream short video platforms, namely, ‘Douyin’, ‘Kwai’, ‘WeChat Video’and ‘Rednote’, for information screening and statistical analysis. A total of 174 valid records are obtained in the study, involving 228 individual animals, belonging to six families, namely, family Phocoenidae, family Delphinidae, family Physeteridae, family Kogiidae, family Ziphiidae, and family Balaenopteridae. Statistical results indicate that, the number of stranding and bycatch events is closely related to the development trend of each platform, and it increases with the growth of user numbers; compared with other platforms,‘Douyin’has the highest proportion of valid records; stranded or bycaught cetaceans recorded on short video platforms are mainly from family Phocoenidae and family Delphinidae, both of which have a higher success rate in release; there are fewer cetacean stranding and bycatch events recorded in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, while there are more in the East China Sea and South China Sea; in the face of live-stranded or live-bycaught cetaceans, public show obvious helping actions in the majority of the records, but there have been individual events of hunting and killing. This study analyzes the validness and limitations of mainstream short video platforms in China in reflecting information on cetacean stranding and bycatch events. Meanwhile, it explores the Chinese public’s awareness and its outcomes in rescuing stranded and bycaught cetaceans, reflecting the potential of short video platforms to provide supplementary data in ecology and conservation biology research.

Key words: Short video platform, Cetaceans, Stranding, Bycatch, Animal conservation

摘要：

公民科学在野生动物研究与保护中发挥着重要作用，传统公民科学通常是有组织地搜集野生动物记录，网络短视频平台上的临时观察信息则提供了“被动公民科学”的宝贵资源。本研究搜集了“抖音”、“快手”、“微信视频号”和“小红书”4个主流短视频平台2017—2024年2月有关中国鲸类搁浅与误捕事件的全部视频，进行信息筛选与统计分析。研究共获得有效记录174条，涉及动物个体228头，分别隶属鼠海豚科、海豚科、抹香鲸科、小抹香鲸科、喙鲸科和须鲸科。统计结果表明，短视频平台记录的鲸类搁浅和误捕事件数量与各平台的发展趋势紧密相关，其随用户数量的增加而增多；相较其他平台，“抖音”的有效记录占比最高；搁浅与误捕的鲸类主要来自鼠海豚科和海豚科，这两科动物的放归成功率也更高；黄海、渤海海域记录的搁浅与误捕事件较少，东海、南海海域较多；面对搁浅或误捕的活体鲸类，公众表现出明显救助行动的记录占大多数，但仍存在个别捕杀事件。本研究剖析中国主流短视频平台在反映鲸类搁浅与误捕事件信息方面的有效性与局限性，同时探讨公众救助搁浅与误捕鲸类的意识及其结果，反映了短视频平台在生态学和保护生物学研究中具有提供补充数据的潜力。

关键词: 短视频平台, 鲸类, 搁浅, 误捕, 动物保护

CLC Number:

Q958.2

Zhongrui WU, Liming YONG, Qianhui ZENG, Meiying CHEN, Qian ZHU. Analysis of cetacean stranding and bycatch records based on mainstream online short video platforms[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 45(3): 378-387.

吴中锐, 雍李明, 曾千慧, 陈美颖, 祝茜. 基于主流网络短视频平台的鲸类搁浅及误捕记录分析[J]. 兽类学报, 2025, 45(3): 378-387.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Retrieval and screening steps for short video records

Fig. 2 Proportion of valid records on different short video platforms

Fig. 3 Annual trend of the number of stranding and bycatch video records in 2017 - 2023

Fig.4 The distribution map of cetaceans in coastal areas of China recorded by short video platform

Fig. 5 Number of stranding and bycatch events and involved cetacean individuals in different administrative areas

Fig. 6 Success rate of release for different cetacean groups from live strandings

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