WHALE
AND DOLPHIN RESEARCH
WHALES:
The warm, shallow waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands constitute
one of the world's most important humpback whale habitats and the
only place in the U.S. where humpback whales reproduce. Scientists
estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale
population migrate to Hawaiian waters for breeding, calving and nursing
activities. The continued protection of humpback whales and their
habitats is crucial to the long-term recovery of this endangered species.
Our goal is to have the study area (Ka'ena Point) be awarded greater
State conservation efforts. Interns
can participate in both opportunistic vessel (we will not be approaching
whales within 100 yards) and shore-based observations.
DOLPHINS:
While nearshore Hawaiian spinner dolphins have been documented to
range in Hawaiian waters year-round many important details of their
occurrence there are yet to be documented. Among the important questions
to be answered include how many dolphins utilize the coastal habitats,
and whether these dolphins are year-round or occasional residents.
This baseline data is necessary for the management and conservation
of these marine mammals and their environment.
The
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin is becoming quite a tourist attraction. The
Wild Dolphin Foundation hopes to preserve and protect the dolphin’s
natural resting grounds through studies of dolphin interaction between
pods and vessels. You will also help us by logging the residential
pod by identifying individual dolphins through photo identification.
Your research will assist in both identifying and logging individual
dolphins as well as participating in beach observations. These tasks
are crucial in providing accurate accounts of both the Spinner’s behavior
and well being.
CORAL:
We
are involved with annual transects on five beaches on our coast in
affliation with Reef
Check. We are setting up a ongoing water quality sampling program
for local beaches of concern.
