On a journey of discovery to the supported projects in Brazil.
For almost five years I have been working as an animal keeper with the dolphins of Planète Sauvage, a zoo that has supported YAQU PACHA for many years. My work consists in taking care of the animals' welfare on a daily basis, but also in participating in research and science and in raising awareness among as many people as possible about the protection of these species in their habitat,
I communicate daily with visitors and explain to them the importance of in-situ and ex-situ conservation work. As the problems caused by human activities in the sea are increasing, it is becoming more and more important every day to find new solutions to protect species, help wildlife and conserve them.
But what about the projects we support on the ground every day?
This was a question I had been asking myself for some time. I wanted to see with my own eyes how the projects are implemented on the ground and where the money goes.
So I got the chance to travel to the south of Brazil, to Rio Grande, for a month to see what YAQU PACHA's projects are all about. I participated in an internship to get to know the different species conservation projects of YAQU PACHA and the daily work. The whole thing in collaboration with the Federal University of Rio Grande FURG.
My stay began at CRAM FURG (Center for the Care of Marine Animals), where I was able to participate in the following activities.
Care of the animals in the center (turtles, penguins, birds, sea lions), monitoring on the beach, recording of the different species of sea birds, pollution, strandings and anthropogenic waste, releases, necropsies, hematological / parasitological analysis or more about certain veterinary treatments such as ozone therapy or laser therapy.
In a second phase, I was placed in the Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Marine Fauna ECOMEGA FURG. There I was able to get to know the different studies and conservation projects, such as the Toninhas Project for the Fransiscana dolphin or the Boto Project for the Lahille's porpoise.
I was allowed to accompany the Boto Project team on their regular trips to the sea to monitor the population with photo-identification and DNA samples.
Beach observations are also conducted twice a month, during which stranded animals are counted and various samples (teeth, organs, skin, skull) are taken from dead animals for analysis and examination in the laboratory.
For example, I learned that a single dolphin tooth can be used to study a whole range of biological parameters.
After several working steps, we make thin tooth slices, which allow us to determine the age of the animal. By taking material (dentin) we can also examine the isotopes present, which give us information about the diet, possible migrations or even the characteristics of the animal's habitat throughout its life.
It is therefore one of the daily tasks of ECOMEGA, to study these species, their life expectancy, their distribution, the use of their habitat, the size of their populations or even their habits and diet. If we know them better, we will be able to underpin the importance of measures to combat the problems caused by human activities in the sea and improve the protection measures already in place (protected areas where fishing is prohibited, pingers in fishing nets).
I have returned from this volunteering with all the answers to my questions, with all the keys in my hand to share and pass on the new knowledge I have acquired in the field with my colleagues and the visitors to the park. It was a very enriching experience, both personally and professionally.
Thank you to everyone I had the pleasure of meeting during this stay and thank you for your work. Thanks to the Team from YAQU PACHA for the trust placed in me.
Marie Labourier
"You protect what you love, and you love what you know." J. Cousteau