Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2024-FULL - Flipbook - Page 24
Bertarelli Foundation
Cetacean Refuges
Lead Investigator: Dr. Clare Embling,
University of Plymouth
The cetacean project continues to reveal the critical
role the Chagos Archipelago plays as a refuge for
cetaceans in the Indian Ocean. With an additional six
months of data collected, the team have now recorded
over 1,000 individuals from 15 cetacean species through
visual surveys—including commonly sighted spinner
and bottlenose dolphins, as well as rare species like
Longman’s beaked whale. More than 20 months of
acoustic recordings from six locations have captured
dolphin whistles at all sites—80% of recorded days at
Egmont Atoll alone—thanks to analysis by PhD student
Udayanga Sampath. Humpback whale vocalisations
were also detected year-round, with songs during the SE
monsoon and non-song calls during the NW monsoon.
These are now under expert review to determine their
population origin.
In parallel, PhD student Isha’s work in the northern
Maldives has shown that sea surface temperature is a
key driver of cetacean abundance, with a notable 2001
peak linked to cooler conditions. Furthermore, capacity
building has progressed through training courses led
by Riyaz Jauhary, engaging 14–16-year-old Maldivian
students in marine science and inspiring future ocean
stewards. Together, these strands demonstrate the
region’s significance for cetacean conservation and the
next generation of marine leaders.
Dolphins swimming Chagos © www.rommel.co.in
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