Under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Machalilla National Park, Pacific Whale Foundation Ecuador provided a free training during the months of August through early September. The gathering was a unique opportunity for Puerto López residents to learn from National Park representatives. Specifically directed towards those in constant interaction with whales, the training was attended by park rangers, guides, and captains of Machalilla National Park.
Collectively, the training brought together about 90 people including both veteran guides with many years of experience and new ones who will help with future protection. We were delighted to have the talkative guides with all their questions and even the silent captains who needed teambuilding games to loosen their tongues a little!
Participants received valuable information in the format of three different presentations. The talks covered topics such as correct boat practices in the presence of whales, and we were also able to share whalewatching statistics as well as our recent research findings. Pacific Whale Foundation’s Cristina Castro, Ph.D., Researcher Director of Ecuador, presented information regarding a whale that was photo-identified in Ecuador and a couple of years later was also identified in South Sandwich Island, a migratory distance of approximately 10,000km. Attendees were fascinated by this topic and expressed a great interest to learn more.
It is opportunities like these that encourage us in our 18 consecutive years of research, conservation, and education. We are committed to training and educating the residents of Puerto Lopez, following through and moving forward with research, and above all, sharing everything we know to protect and conserve humpback whales in our beloved Ecuador.
