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.
Liu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.