# Post‐Release Survival and Behavioral Recovery of a Rehabilitated Short‐Finned Pilot Whale ( Globicephala macrorhynchus ) in the South China Sea Revealed Through Satellite Tracking

## TL;DR

A rehabilitated short-finned pilot whale survived and adapted well after release into the South China Sea, showing normal behavior and movement patterns.

## Contribution

First empirical evidence of successful rehabilitation and post-release survival of a short-finned pilot whale in the South China Sea.

## Key findings

- Haitang survived beyond the critical six-week post-release benchmark.
- His movement and diving behaviors were consistent with healthy wild individuals.
- The Qiongdongnan slope was identified as a critical habitat for the species.

## Abstract

Post‐release monitoring is critical for evaluating the success of rehabilitating stranded cetaceans, yet such data are scarce for many species in the South China Sea (SCS). We satellite‐tracked a rehabilitated subadult male short‐finned pilot whale (
Globicephala macrorhynchus
; named “Haitang”), following a live stranding on Hainan Island, China. We collected tracking locations and behavioral data over a 52‐day period and conducted a dedicated 3‐day expedition to resight Haitang at sea in the sixth week post‐release. Results confirm Haitang's survival beyond the critical 6‐week benchmark. Its daily movement distance (6.2–145.9 km) and speed (0.6–5.9 km/h) were consistent with those of healthy, free‐ranging conspecifics. Furthermore, diving behavior including time‐at‐depth budgets, maximum dive depth (621 m), diel patterns, and thermal‐depth profiles reflected natural foraging activity and environmental adaptation. Notably, high density and spatial proximity of local conspecifics during the post‐release expedition indicate favorable conditions for social integration and long‐term survival. Movement trajectories suggest that the Qiongdongnan slope represents a critical habitat for this species in the northern SCS. This study provides the first empirical evidence of successful rehabilitation and release of short‐finned pilot whale in the SCS, supporting future stranding response and conservation initiatives.

This study presents the first empirical evidence of successful rehabilitation and post‐release monitoring of a short‐finned pilot whale in the South China Sea—a region where such data are critically lacking despite frequent stranding events. Using satellite telemetry and a dedicated resighting expedition, we documented the 52‐day movement, diving behavior, and social reintegration potential of a rehabilitated subadult male, “Haitang”. Our findings not only confirm his survival beyond the critical six‐week benchmark but also provide novel insights into the species' habitat use, diel diving patterns, and behavioral recovery in a poorly studied oceanic region.