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GYC0613 - Dolphin and Whale Research Centre Country: South Africa Cost: £3430.00 Please note: Allow spending money of about £20 per week. Insurance is compulsory. You can arrange it for yourself or we can organise it for you at a cost of about £33 per month. Cost Includes: The price includes flight, accommodation, food, pickup from airport and visas but does not include insurance or kit       Duration: 8 weeks Company Rep Nearby: Various 0845 344 7518 or

 

	This placement would suit... Those with an interest in marine research, marine biology, marine mammals and birds. Assist in research projects at a World-renowned ocean research centre... The Dolphin and Whale Research Centre (DWRC) is based in the spectacular Plettenberg Bay, which is a key breeding ground for dolphins and whales. The DWRC, officially launched in 1990, evolved from the need to expand our knowledge of Western Indian Ocean, and in particular Southern African, coastal and pelagic marine mammals, in light of the continued and increasing degradation of our environment. The primary mission of the DWRC is to gather information on all marine mammal, and particularly dolphin species, inhabiting the Western Indian Ocean. Secondly, to co-ordinate and integrate multidisciplinary research on the behaviour, ecology, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, toxicology, parasitology, conservation and management of these marine mammals. With more than 20 years' experience, and formerly curator of the Port Elizabeth Museum, Dr Vic Cockroft is renowned in scientific circles for his research and expertise in the field of dolphins and whales along the Cape coast. Dr Debbie Young has been involved in many of these marine projects and has a special interest in education and seabird rehabilitation. The eco-tourism side of the organisation, Ocean Safaris, is used to contribute finance to scientific research projects on whales, dolphins and seals, along a stretch of coastline between Knysna and the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve. Student programme This programme is of particular interest to undergraduates, graduates and post graduates who are keen to gain field experience with this sector of marine biology. The main part of the programme is to give you the opportunity to take part and learn research techniques used in the research projects outlined below. At times, you will be asked to assist with the tourist operation by giving support on the whale and dolphin viewing boats. Assistance on the boats will also be required with the education programme for school groups and underprivileged children. Research projects Bottlenose and humpback dolphins in the Plettenberg Bay area: do the Tsitsikamma and Goukamma Marine Reserves contribute to dolphin conservation? Individual bottlenose dolphins are identified by their dorsal fins. Many population parameters can be described by following the individual animals, for example; population size, movement patterns, individual and group associations, home range and habitat preference. Photo-identification techniques are used to establish the population biology of the dolphins. To date nearly 800 bottlenose dolphins have been identified in Plettenberg Bay. In the past, these photographs have been taken from a commercial dolphin and whale watching boat. However, with the advent of the student programme, dedicated coastal surveys to collect photo identification are underway. This study will try to identify the requirements of humpback dolphins in an attempt to discover whether the two Marine Protected Areas (Tsitsikama and Goukamma Nature Reserves) fulfil the needs of humpback dolphins, therefore potentially playing a role in the conservation of the species in this area. Humpback whales visiting the eastern shores of South and East Africa: Scientists still have no idea of just how many whales there are, where they go to breed and the familial relationships between the whales sighted. To find the answers to some of these questions, the DWRC runs a humpback whale research project, where individual humpback whales are photographically identified, their songs, for which humpback whales are renowned, recorded and 'biopsies' taken. Biopsies are used for detailed familial identification and are obtained by means of a humane system of taking a 'plug' of skin. The biopsy is then laboratory analysed for DNA. Southern Right whale occurrence, movements and numbers along the South African coast: Southern right whales visit the South African coastline from late June to November each year, to calf, mate and socialise. This has occurred for tens of thousands of years. However, commercial whaling reduced South Africa's right whales to near extinction. Fortunately, their numbers are steadily increasing. Long-term research has shown that more than 2,000 whales visit South Africa's coastline. But, what do they do once they arrive? Do they stay in the same areas? Do they move from one bay to another? Do they stay together? Do they visit the same areas year after year? We attempt to answer these questions. Seals on the Robberg peninsular: Seals in this area were hunted for their fur and exterminated by 1908. They re-appeared in the early 1990s and their numbers now exceed 2,000. Fishermen in the area are now complaining that as numbers have now substantially recovered, their fish stocks are being dramatically reduced. This section of the project is to scientifically investigate their claim of reduced fish quantities, before any decision can be made as to the course of action to be taken. To do this the CDS collects seal 'scats' (faeces) from the seal colony, to find out what the seals feed on. This will show whether the seals compete with fishermen for fish, or whether seals and fishermen target different resources. The Plettenberg Bay Seabird Rehabilitation Centre has been established by Dr Debbie Young as a rescue and rehabilitation centre for polluted and contaminated sea birds, in particular penguins. Students will assist at the Centre as and when required. Accommodation Students share accommodation in a two-storey timber chalet, provided with electricity and hot and cold running water. The chalet is built on a picturesque property which includes the home of Dr Vic Cockroft and Dr Debbie Young and the Plettenberg Bay Seabird Rehabilitation Centre and is adjacent to the Knysna Elephant Park. 0845 344 7518 African Conservation Experience: We arrange for young people to work on Game and Nature Reserves throughout Southern Africa, playing an active role in Conservation and the maintenance of the Environment - working in intimate association with Game Rangers and Conservationists in the Wild