Download our induction pack here - Atlantic Whale Foundation

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Contents
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Atlantic Whale Foundation
Tenerife
Volunteering and Activities
House
27 Whale Species
On the Boats
What to do with Data
Threats
General Information
Marine Life
Contact Information
4 - 5
6 - 8
9 - 12
13 - 15
16 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 36
37 - 43
44 - 53
54 - 58
59

“To say nothing, to do nothing, stops nothing”
- Roni McCall
AWF
The AWF

The responsibility to defend nature belongs to each of us as individuals
We work with the Confederation
of Whale-watching Boats of
Tenerife to conduct research
on the whales and dolphins
and raise awareness of
conservation issues.
Our third aim is to
empower people to
make a difference.
The Atlantic Whale Foundation,
Number 1076270, is a British
registered charity run by volunteers.
It was founded to continue the work
of Spanish environmental agency,
Proyecto Ambiental Tenerife
Our first aim is to promote
conservation through education
“Encouragaing individuals to make a difference through positive actions
within communities, the environment and in nature globally”
The AWF ́s Volunteer Programme provides opportunities for young people to use their skills towards
conservation goals, learning through experience - Photographers, artists, media people, film and video
makers, web designers, graphic and product designers, educationalists, theatre and street actors and
creative writers. In addition to contributing to conservation, these programmes facilitate extraordinary
experience and portfolio development.
The WhaleFund is designed to bring together ordinary people working across the world to conserve
nature, the
environment and communities under threat - to enable people to promote their own grassroot projects
and to show where individuals can make a difference, either in volunteering their time, helping in
campaigning, acquiring resources or providing funding. People to people, no government, no
bureaucracy, no organisations but, rather, a growing global network of ordinary people wanting to
make a difference.
Have you seen our web-site?
Find out so much more at www.whalenation.org
The AWF works primarily towards
helping to make Tenerife’s whale
watching industry a global
example of best practice.
Our second aim is
to develop the local
Canary Island economy

“What a country chooses to save is what a
AWF
Tenerife
country chooses to say about itself” - Mollie Beattie

Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of the seven islands that make up the Canary Islands. The island is just over 300
km from the African coast, and around 1,300 km from the Spanish Mainland. Pico del Teide rises up to
3,718 metres and is the 3rd largest volcano in the world,
The rugged island terrain and the variety of climates has produced a territory of many different
landscapes and forms. From the Teide National Park to Los Gigantes Cliffs, with semi-desert areas with
their drought-resistant plants in the south to valleys of tropical and sub-tropical crops.
The Capital - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is both the administrative centre of the western Canary Islands and the capital of Tenerife.
Located on the north-east cost it is a bustling city and shipping port. The enormous harbour holds many
container ships, cruise liners and inter island jet foils and ferries. Situated in a large natural bay, it has a
stunning backdrop of mountains (Anaga mountains) that are over 1000 metres high. The city is a
bustling cosmopolitian centre with loads for the sightseeing tourist and an excellent base for exploring
the northeast of the island.
What happens in Santa Cruz?
The sunday market in Santa Cruz takes place in the streets between the cathedral and the Mercado
Nuestra Senora de Africa. Although it is a long way from our base it is worth a trip as it’s a huge market
with strong South American, African and local influences. The market runs early morning through to
lunch
Santa Cruz Carnival
Santa Cruz is home to the World's largest carnival
after Rio De Janeiro, which takes place in February.
The celebrations take place in the areas near the port
where people dance to the sound of the best salsa
groups.
During the 27 days of the carnival, many important
festivities are held such as the election of the
carnival queen, competitions of street bands and
above all the impressive cavalcade which blends
Caribbean and European into a garland of colour and
spectacle.

Mount Teide
• Mount Teide is the 3rd largest volcano on Earth.
• Elevation at the summit of the volcano is 3,715m.
• Most recent eruption was in 1909. Teide is due to
errupt every 100 years.
• The plants that grow there are unique, such as
the Teide Violet.
The Cliffs of the Giants
(Acantilados de los Gigantes)
• Second highest sea cliffs in the world.
• The remarkable sheer rock walls plunge into the
ocean from a height of 800m in some places.
• The cliffs are situated by the resort town of
Los Gigantes.
• The only way for you to get closer to these
amazing cliffs is by boat. Once there, you will get
the real notion of the greatness within those walls
and maybe understand why ancestors considered
them sacred.
Masca
• Situated in an imposing gorge on the north west of
the island, the village of Masca is generally considered
to be Tenerife's prettiest village.
• The old stone houses look out over lush vegetation
and steep ravine walls towards the shimmering
Atlantic Ocean.
• This remote outpost was connected to the rest of the
island when a road was built in 1991.
• Today the population stands at over one hundred
who service the constant stream of tourists to this
beautiful corner of the island.

“We must be the change, we wish to see”
- Ghandi
AWF
Volunteering

What are the volunteer duties?
You will work as research guides on the whale watching boats and spend the rest of your time in the
research area.
Everybody spends time research guiding and then, additionally, on their own project as well. In the
evenings the research lab is a hive of activity and will often be so, late into the night.
You will also be expected to help out with day to day runnings of the house e.g. cleaning, cooking and
building.
What will you be doing day to day?
During work days, the rota system normally puts people on
the boats three days per week (on average).
You will leave on the boats from the ports of Los
Cristianos, Puerto Colon and Los Gigantes.
On the boats you ́ll assist our research guides in
carrying out our research work and in handing out and
talking through educational materials with the
on-board tourists.
You will be expected to integrate with the crew on a
professional basis doing everything from helping to clean
up, serve food and also guide.
We expect our volunteers to work with upmost professionalism.
Finally on Sunday nights a meeting will take place. This will be the time to share your views, problems and
findings. The weeks schedule and goals will be discussed and set in place.

What will you get out of the experience?
Feeling of personal achievement.
Being able to contribute towards the achievement of an ethical goal receiving adequate training and
induction to help you understand and contribute fully.
Being part of a team, with the probability of making friends for life.
Feeling valued, both for your contribution as well as for the goal worked towards.
Possibility of self learning and of self development.

Activities
Tenerife is an extraordinary island, stunningly beautiful and with a strong south American culture
uninterrupted by the tourism developments of the south. Volunteers must see it.
There are also a huge number of educational activities that you can engage in, most at heavily
discounted prices for our volunteers.
Fiestas and Ritual
Each village has a fiesta at
some point during the summer
and these tend to run from late
evening through to the early
hours of the morning.
The Teide Challenge
Raise Money and tackle the
Teide challenge by climbing
the third largest, active
volcano in the world!
Sunday market in
Santa Cruz
This is a long way from our
base but worth a trip as it's
a huge market with strong
South American; African and
local influence.
Diving
One of the most enjoyed
activities. We use a long
established dive centre in Los
Gigantes which offers both
CMAS and PADI instruction.
The waters are clear and
offer rays, shark, dolphins
and octopus amongst other
marine life.
Tango Dancing
Dardo is Argentinean and
comes from a long family line
of Tango dancers, he learnt
his trade in Paris and now
operates out of an old hotel
the back end of Guimar.
La Gomera
A neighbouring island and a
visit there is like stepping back
in time. With echoes of an old
plantation (banana) culture all
around.
Other activities you can participate in include spanish lessons, mountaing biking, horse riding, doing the
Masca or Pilgrims walk or just chilling out on the local beaches.

AWF
The House
“Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them”
- Mark Twain

Accomodation
Accomodation is provided free in the research station itself, 3-4 people in a room (more if we are
busy), and in surrounding properties.
Breakfast and evening meals are prepared by volunteers on a rota basis as are cleaning duties.
Lunches are inexpensive and if on site people can raid the kitchens and put 1 Euro into a kitty, which
we are donating to pay the wages of Sri Lankean teachers. They only need 1 euro per day!!
The washing machine can also be used with washing powder provided. We ask you to put 1 euro in
the teachers kitty for this too.
Meetings
Meetings are held every night for the rota of next day
and progress of the each research projects.
Friday evening meetings are to debrief.
Sunday evenings are the most important as it sets
goals for the coming week.

The House Rules
Clean up after yourself, (except after dinner when the on site team that day cleans up as part of their
daily on site duty).
When using the toilets NO paper or non organic materials are to be put in the loo as this will block the
main sewage system (very nasty) - there is a waste bin where all such materials must be placed and
the on site team each day has to dispose of it in the rubbish, (little bit nasty).
DRUGS, EXCESSIVE DRINK, BOISTEROUS AND RUDE BEHAVIOUR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED-
YOU WILL SIMPLY BE SENT HOME.
If you are on the whale watching boats you must be ready for transporting at 9.00am or earlier if advised.
It is your responsibility:
- To make sure that you have all the equipment that you need.
- To make sure that your t-shirt is clean
- To know where you are going
- As soon as you get home data and photos need to be put on to the computers, without exception.
On days in the research centre you must:
- Be up and ready to work by 9am
- Water ALL plants, upstairs and outside
- Sweep ALL floors, including upstairs
- Mop the Kitchen area
- ALL THE ABOVE BY 10.00AM SO REAL WORK CAN BEGIN
- Cook evening dinner (Lessons will be provided if necessary!)
- Wash all pots and pans after dinner
- Take kitchen and toilet bins out to the end of the road after 8pm
- Take the recycling down to recycling point
If you use the washing machine, 1€ goes to a kitty each per wash. This money goes to paying the
wage of an African teacher
If you eat lunch on site, again 1€ needs to be placed in the same kitty
CATS:
- NOT allowed in the kitchen
- NOT allowed in the research room
- NOT allowed in bedrooms
- Water bowl in the hall needs filling when or if empty
If you use the last of something or notice it running out, PLEASE add it to the white board in the
kitchen
The cars are for project use only. If they are used for touring the island it will be at the project leader/
drivers discretion and the petrol will be paid by those using the car.
NO MOANING IS ALLOWED! If you think you have a problem SAY! People consistently whispering in
dark corners, long faces and sour looks will be barbequed.

AWF
27 Whales Species
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we
borrow it from our children” - Native American Proverb

What’s so special about Tenerife?
Tenerife is a paradise for whales and dolphins. The ocean is calm, deep and filled with with squid and
fish, the favourite foods of cetaceans. Twenty-seven species of whale and dolphins have been seen in
the ocean around Tenerife - That’s one third of all species on the planet!
The Common Dolphin can sometimes be seen migrating through
here. They are noisy and acrobatic.
Sperm Whale
The Common Dolphin
Sperm Whales are resident between Tenerife and Gran Canaria
and sometimes pop round to say hello
The Blue Whale, the biggest animal ever, migrates through deeper
waters out at sea.
The Blue Whale
When can we see the whales and dolphins?
The short finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphin are residents here and usually seen every single
day! The other species that migrate through are usually seen between December to May and again at
the end of the summer.
But, why so many?
Deep waters - between Tenerife and Lagomera there is a 3000m deep ocean trench but in certain
places around the island it goes down to an amazing 5000m!
Warm waters - It is tropical here so the sea surface temperature rarely drops below 15°C.
Food - The ocean here is bursting with squid, fish, octopus and billions of microscopic plankton.

Profile
Weight at Birth: 60 Kg (135 lbs)
Adult Weight: 1 - 4 tonnes
Average Adult Length: 3.6 - 6.5 metres
Male Maximum Age: 45 years
Female Maximum Age: 63 years
Distribution: Distributed in all tropical,
subtropical and warm temperate oceans.
Diet: Fish, squid, octopi
Threats: Hunting/whaling, entanglement
in fishing nets, pollution, habitat destruction,
human disturbance.
Females can live for up to 60+ and males up to
45 years
There are usually between 10 and 30 whales in
each pod
When the females are over 45 they become
grandmas and look after all the other calves in
the pod when their mothers go to feed
They were called pilot whales because they are
always found in deep, calm water. This would
show ship captains the way to go
They can dive for 20 minutes down to 500m to
catch squid, fish & octopus. They use
echolocation to locate their prey
Short Finned Pilot Whale
ID Check
Jet black or dark grey colour
Rounded, bulbous head
Fin set forward on body
Fin sweeps backwards
Stocky but elongated body
Strong blow
Frequently lobtails and spy-
hops
Prefers deep waters
Indifferent to boats

Profile
Weight at Birth: 15 - 30 Kg (35 - 65 lbs)
Adult Weight: 150 - 650 Kg (330 - 1,435 lbs)
Average Adult Length: 1.9 - 3.9 metres
Male Maximum Age: 30-40 years
Female Maximum Age: 40 + years
Distribution: Widely distributed in cold
temperate to tropical seas.
Diet: Fish, squid, octopus
Group Size: 1 - 10 (inshore), 1 - 25
(offshore), up to 500 may occur offshore
Threats: Hunting/whaling, entanglement in
fishing nets, pollution, habitat destruction,
They feed on squid, octopus and small fish in
groups to avoid danger.
They travel in social groups called pods. Between
1 and 25 friends and relations swim together.
Females live for 40 years and males between 30
and 40 years.
They find their way using echolocation just like
bats. Very fast sound waves bounce off
everything and tell them what is around them.
Sometimes lone bottlenose dolphins with no pod
will bond with humans for company.
Their brain is twice the size of a human’s. They
only sleep half of their brain at a time, otherwise
they would drown.
Bottlenose Dolphin
ID Check
Jet black or dark grey colour
Rounded, bulbous head
Fin set forward on body
Fin sweeps backwards
Stocky but elongated body
Strong blow
Frequently lobtails and spyhops
Prefers deep waters
Indifferent to boats

Behaviour and Social Structure:
- Short finned Pilot whales live in stable
matriarchal groups consisting of related females
and their immature offspring. The pod centers
around mothers and calves. Males tend to leave
these groups of their mothers, aunties and sisters
as they reach sexual maturity.
- Gestation is 15 months and females usually have
about 4 - 5 calves within their lifetime. Young males
stay within the pod until are sexually mature, while
female young remain for the rest of their lives.
Bottle Nose Dolphin
Short Finned Pilot Whale
- Females are post reproductive at 45 years and
take on a ‘grandmother’ role and are responsible of the offspring whilst mothers go to feed.
Short-finned Pilot whales are most active at night when they feed.
- During the day they can be seen logging on the surface. Other behaviour sometimes observed are
travelling, milling, wake-riding, fluke slapping, spyhopping and very occasionally breaching.
- Other cetaceans, such as the bottlenose dolphin will often associate with pilot whales, as they have
very advanced echolocation systems, which makes them good at hunting for giant squid and other
food in the deep waters.
Behaviour and Social Structure:
- Bottle Nose Dolphins live in fission-fusion
societies in which individuals associate in small
parties that frequently change. Groups can stay
stable for relatively long periods of time, or just for
a few hours. Strong bonds exist between different
individuals of the pod.
- Bottlenose dolphins express affiliation by
proximity, physical contact and synchronous
movement. There are also more active forms of
affiliate touching: gentle stroking, rubbing or
putting the pectoral fins on the side of another
individual.
- Females have a large network of associates and are linked to most other females. They seem to
help each other through life, such as helping with new-borns. Males associate in groups of two or
more to both deter other males that approach their females or to take females from another group.
- Bottlenose dolphins are powerful, acrobatic swimmers. They are often seen carrying out various
different activities like bow riding, tail slapping, porpoising, breaching, fluking, wake riding and beach
rubbing.

The diagrams show basic external anatomy of the pilot whale and bottlenose dolphin, which are
similar except for the bottlenose dolphin’s beak.
Key
1. Beak
2. Melon
3. Eye
4. Ear
5. Blowhole
6. Pectoral Fin (Flipper)
7. Dorsal Fin
8. Dorsal Ridge
9. Fluke
10. Median Notch

Travelling - when the pod are swimming generally at speed, together
in one unified direction.
Milling
Logging - resting on the surface, motionless.
Bow Riding
Surfing
Travelling
Milling - most of the pod moving slowly in various directions.
Logging
Bow Riding - swimming in the pressure waves created at the front of the boat
as it moves through the water.
Wake Riding - swimming in the waves produced at the back of the boat.
Surfing - swimming / surfing waves or swell.
Wake Riding

Porpoising - leaping out of the water to swim fast.
Breaching
Spy-Hopping - body held vertically in water with eyes and head above
the water to see what is happening on surface.
Flipper Out
Fluke Slapping
Porpoising
Breaching - launching themselves into the air and then falling into the
water on back or side.
Spy-Hopping
Flipper Out - when cetaceans roll on to their side, at the surface,
pectoral fins stick out of the water.
Fluke Out - fluke and body vertically held purposefully out of the water.
Fluke Out
Fluke Slapping - slapping the fluke against the water as a sign
of aggression or communication.

Pan-tropical Spotted Dolphin
Stenella attenuata (1.6-2.6m)
Canarian waters home 27 cetacean species.
A third of all species of whale and dolphin either live or pass through Canarian waters.
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
Ziphius Cavirostris (4.7-7m)
Striped Dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba (1.8-2.7m)
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin
Stenella frontalis (1.6-2.3m)
Gervais’ Beaked whale
Mesoplodon europaeus (4.5-2m)
Risso’s Dolphin
Grampus griseus (2.6-4m)
Killer Whale
Orcinus Orca (4.5-9.8m)
Long finned Pilot Whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus (3.6-7.2m)
False Killer Whale
Pseudorca crassidens (3.7-6.1m)
Fraser’s Dolphin
Largenodelphis hosei (2.3-3.1m)
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Delphinus Delphis (1.7-2m)
Short-finned Pilot Whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus (3.6-7.2m)
Pygmy Killer Whale
Feresa attenuata (2.1-2.6m) Dwarf Sperm Whale
Kogia Sima (2.7m)
Fin Whale
Balenoptera physalus (17-27m)
Blue Whale
Balenoptera musculus (20-33.6m)
Sei Whale
Balenoptera borealis (12-21m)
Blainville’s Beaked Whale
Mesoplodon Densirostris (4.5-6m)
Bryde’s Whale
Balenoptera edeni (10-15m)
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus (1.9-4.1m)
Pygmy Killer Whale
Feresa attenuata (2.1-2.6m)
Rough-toothed Dolphin
Steno bredanensis (2.1-2.65m)

AWF
On the boats
“Education is the most powerful weapon, which
you can use to change the world” - Nelson Mandela

Boat Rules
1. When out on the boats there will often be two people. One person to take the xphotographs, the
other fills in the data sheets. It is both of your responsibilities to go around and talk to the tourists,
giving them as much information as you can, and posters if allowed.
2. Get as many petition signatures and contacts of people who would like to help us in our work.
3. What you should know and be able to tell people if asked:
About the work we do here at the AWF, Education, Conservation, Research, Awareness, Be very
knowledgeable about cetaceans, Refer people to places where they can get more information,
books, websites. Know what information is in the didactics and able to regurgitate this to tourists and
answer questions they may have on this information.
4. Be knowledgeable about conservation issues especially those that threaten marine life.
5. Keep your self up to date with work and projects other volunteers are doing.
6. The owners of the boats do not have to let us on their boats, so it is important we act in a
professional manner. You should help with the general running of the boat where possible, do not
get on the boat until most if not all of the tourists have got on, unless asked to do so by the crew, you
should make sure you are wearing your t-shirt well before you arrive at the boat - it looks
unprofessional to start getting changed in front of the boat and keep your T-shirts clean.
7. Volunteers should try to communicate with the tourists in their native tongue using an appropriate
didactic or find someone who can speak their language well. We are on the boats to communicate
to tourists how amazing nature is, the dangers that are facing it and what we can do to protect it. It is
essential you try and communicate with all tourists, no matter how little of their language you speak.
8. Our ultimate goal is to become a part of the crew so help out with chores around the boats, such as
giving people ashtrays, clearing up around the boat, serving food, drinks and handing out sick bags
and tissues! If you make yourself useful on the boat it will generally be appreciated.
9. Only eat food, when offered or when all the tourists have eaten.
10. Don´t swim for too long, unless told to do so by the crew.
11. Always ask in the office, the captain or owner of the boat if it is alright for you to go on, do NOT
assume you can just walk on.
12. ALWAYS thank the captain, crew and owners after a trip (if they are there).
13. ALWAYS keep a professional distance from the crews.
14. NEVER sunbathe or get drunk on the boats. We are on there to do a job, not look like tourists.
15. All boats have different personalities and rules. Act conservatively at first until you get to know
them but we expect people to act with professionalism at all times. Anyone who does not makes it
harder for everyone who does and they WILL be asked to leave the project.

Data Sheet (1)

Data Sheet (2)

Looking out for Cetaceans
Imagine the clock face, The front of the boat is at
12 o´clock, Using the numbers of the clock, let the
other tourists know where the cetaceans are, e.g
2 o´clock in this image. There are no standard
regulations for boat handling around whales and
dolphins, suggested guidelines are as follows:
- Approach slowly from a parallel position and
slightly to the rear of the pod.
- Avoid overcrowding the animals (no more than 2
or 3 boats)
- Keep noise levels to a minimum.
- No throwing anything into the water
What to look for when searching for cetaceans:
- Movement
- Flash of Light (water reflecting off the dorsal fin)
- Dorsal Fins
What to take on the boats
A pack (including posters, petitions in all languages and data sheets)
Camera and other equipment
Your whale nation t-shirt (should be worn at ALL times to and from the boat)
Hat and sunglasses
Recording cetaceans
Pen
Sun cream
Towel
Bottle of water
The main objectives are to:
Raise awareness.
The tourists need to be aware of what we do and what consrvational issues there are in the world.
Appreciate what’s out there.
Talking to the tourists.
So they truly appreciate the beauty of the whales and dolphins and other marine life.
Can tell them which species they have seen today and explain in more detail about each.
Inspire them to help.
Informing them of ways to get involved in helping this cause or others.
- Through volunteering our help, and paying for the privilege of so doing
- Through eco-tourism, putting our holiday money into local pockets
- Through fair trade, buying products that give fair value to producers and / or where profits
Fund conservation or humanitarian projects.
Through funding specific global programmes: Endangered Habitat Land Bank; Animal Defender
Programme; Micro Financing Programme; Education Programme; Research Programmes.
Asking them to sign our petition. It’s important to pass on emails of those who are very interested
so cordinators can contact them to facilitate them to make a difference.

The Data Explained
1. In the middle of each snapshot box a simple boat
has been drawn, which is the starting point of every
drawing. The boat in the middle represents the boat
the observation is done from. Boat shapes represent
other boats as well, with the nose pointing into the
appropriate direction. On every boat drawn on the
snapshot, including the boat you are on, the boat
code and speed should be written on. These can be
obtained from the table on the bottom of the data
sheet guidelines.
Our volunteers go out on 15 different boats over 3 different
ports on the west coast of Tenerife.
One of our objectives whilst on the boat is to collect data on cetacean behaviour. There will often be
two volunteers on the boat, one to fill in the data sheets and the other to take photos (see the photo
identification guidelines)
One person on each boat is responsible for monitoring cetacean behaviour. This is carried out by
filling in the Cetacean Behaviour and Interactions Form. Part of this form are the ‘snapshot’ boxes, in
which drawings have to be made that give an overview of the situation at different times. The other
part is a summary of all the relevent data.
Before the interaction has started the top of the observation sheet should be filled in and
photographed. The fields should be filled in like the shot below. As soon as you are close enough to
the cetaceans, to be able to se what they are doing, record the start GPS coordinates and the time.
Then start to fill in the snapshot boxes. Proper drawings should give a simple and instant overview
of the situation of boats and cetaceans at a certain time.
In each pack that you take out on the boats with you or attached to your clipboard there will be
guidelines on how to fill out the sightings sheets. The box below is shown on this sheet and is a
reminder on how to fill in the snapshot boxes correctly. A completed snapshot box contains three
basic elements (see diagram).
2. Lines (I) are used to represent the cetaceans. One line represents one cetacean. They should
be enclosed in circles, if there is more than one species present. This makes it obvious to the
viewer where the different species were and if they were interacting with each other or not. The
lines should be drawn where the individuals are in relation to the boat at the start of the snapshot.
If the age class of the cetacean can be determined this should be written on next to the line, using
the abbreviations as shown on the guidelines sheet. It is especially important to mark on where
mother and calves are in the pod if they are present.

3. The line to the right hand side of the box represents the coast line and should always be drawn
on. The boat shapes and the circles/ovals should both contain a code of two elements.
- What boat / species it is. The abbreviations should be used and they consist of two letters. If you
use an abbreviation that is not on the guideline sheet, write in the notes section what the abbrevia-
tion stands for.
- What it is doing. For the cetaceans this will be a single letter abbreviation of the typxe of behaviour
being observed i.e. logging / travelling etc and for a boat it will be the speed it is travelling at which
is a single number between 0 and 4.
Two more items make a picture complete:
- Arrows to indicate the direction in which the animals travel. Arrows could also be used to provide
information about interesting boat movement. An arrow could be used for instance, to indicate that
a boat is turning.
- In the circular forms you can tally the animals as showed in the example. Therefore make sure
to draw those circles quite big. If you want to, you can add a note at the bottom of each box. In the
example a note has been made about an unidentifiable boat and tally up any unusual activity seen,
like in the example. Make sure to complete a snapshot box at least every 5 minutes or more if the
situation changes i.e another species comes into the interaction or boat speeds over etc.
After the sighting always make sure you get the end GPS coordinates and also state if the
cetaceans had dived or were still present when the boat left. Any notes about the sighting as a
whole can be written down here as well. Once the interaction has finished take a few minutes to
check you have filled in the snapshot boxes correctly and complete the front of the form (as seen on
next page.) You must ensure all fields are entered, even if it is with a zero or a none. If there were
no mother or calves present or any unusual activity seen put lines through them to show this. If you
don’t the coordinator checking your form wont know if you have or haven’t seen any!

General Activities
Logging: Animals Floating, Stationary At the Water`s Surface
Travelling: Animals Travelling Through Water In Same Direction often at speed
Milling: Animals Moving Slowly In Various Directions
Surfing: Animals Gliding / Swimming in Wave or Swell
Group Formation
Tight: One group of animals tightly grouped
Loose: One group of animals loosely grouped
Groups Tight: Two or more groups of animals in the same area, each group tight
Groups Loose: Two or more groups of animals in the same area, each group loose
Age Classes
A - Adult: 3-4m for bottlenose dolphins, 5-7m for pilot whales. Adult males are large often with
Muscle Hump ahead of Very Curved Dorsal Fin
J - Juvenile: an individual that is about half the size of an adult
C - Calf: only individuals swimming within 1m of a female and around 1/4 to 1/3 the size of an
adult can be recognised as a calf
Approach behaviour of Boat
Black circle represents the pod.
The arrow shows the direction of movement of the pod
1. Approach pod from ahead
2. Approach pod from behind
3. Approach pod from left
4. Approach pod from right

Photo Identity
Photo identification used to identify
different individuals by their dorsal fins
This is important to us, because it is the only way we are able to identify these creatures. It allows
us to create associations between individuals and us to see which individuals belong to each pod. It
also allows us to see the unique behaviour of each individual. It is also useful for us to provide whale
watching vessels that are not only educational to the tourists but so that the boat owners can see we
are serious and want to make their boats active research vessels. Identification of the cetaceans is
worth while and shows the boats that us being on their boats is a benefit to them.
Dorsal fins are used for identification because each fin is unique, like the fingerprint of a human.
The dorsal fin shape can also be used to determine the sex of the whales, because its shape shows
sexual dimorphism. The males have a broad-based, thick, falcate, dorsal fin and the female’s
having distinctly narrower dorsal fins at the base and a sharper tip.
Photos are taken on the whale watching boats from 3 different ports on the west coast of Tenerife
in the Canary Islands, Spain. While one person takes the photos, the other one writes information
down about the sighting, like the species, number of cetaceans, GPS coordinates and so on.
Every day digital cameras are taken on the whale watching boats that we use for research and
these images are processed every evening when the volunteers return from the boats. They are
then identified by the volunteers and a coordinator checks their identifications. Once checked the
coordinator will upload the data to the main database and also update the filed sightings sheet.
Taking the photos
The photographer has to try to take photos of fins that can be identified later on. Therefore, taking
pictures of cetaceans that are too far away (further than 100 meters) is not good. As the images are
digital, the resolution of the image is lost if we have to zoom in a lot on the computers to get a close
up of the fin. When taking the shots you should be able to see the details on the fins yourself, if you
can not clearly see this through the view finder then the individual is too far away. A good fin shot
will occupy most of the photo making up at least ¼ of the picture.
The cetaceans here, such as the pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, will often approach the boat,
so there is not much point in taking many photos whilst they are far away, because you are likely
to get a much better opportunity a few minutes later. Only take photos at a distance if it is to show
the group composition, any unusual behaviour or a rorqual or other migrating species. But use your
common sense! If you can not see very much through the view finder, you will not see very much
when you look at the photo on the computer either!
When taking the fin shots, the individual should be parallel to the boat. Most other angle does NOT
give good finshots. Shots from any other angles are often useless as notches, scars and nicks that
are used to distinguish between individuals can not be clearly seen.

Lighting is also important when trying to take a good fin shot. As with most photos the sun should
be behind you, which is sometimes difficult especially on the whale watching boats where you have
no control of where the boat is going. But taking shots in to the sun can cause over exposure or a
black silhouette of a fin with no notches visible.
The shutter release button has two different positions. Pressing it halfway down will turn on the
auto-focus system and exposure meter. When the lens has focused on the object it will make some
sort of noise to indicate that it has focused or there will be a light that comes up in the LCD of the
lens to let you know that it is ready to take the shot. Pushing the shutter release button all the way
in, will actually take the photo. You should get used to this before using the camera on the boats.
Any queries should be referred to the coordinators who should have a pretty good idea how to work
the cameras and if not can find out the manuals for them. A good tip is to follow te individuals with
the camera, on autofocus, then the second they surface press the button the whole way down.
A shot of the top of the observation sheet should be taken at the start of every new trip. In between
interactions a control shot should be taken. This can be a photo of anything, the crew, your feet,
tourists or if you are very organised another shot of your observation sheet. This will make it easier
for you to see which shots belong to each interaction and make it much quicker for you to sort your
photos out.
Once the photos have been filed away into the correct files on the computer, one of the volunteers
will go through the images and see if they can be identified. If they can not, the problem with
identification is written in the file name. Those that can be identified are, and the individuals number
and name is saved as the file name. A coordinator will then check this. Once they have done so they
will put their initials at the end of the file name, so it is obvious which files have been checked. The
individuals that have been identified will then be linked to the interaction data in the main databases
and entered by a coordinator. They will also ensure that the individuals that have been identified are
attached to the sightings sheet.
If you are unsure if you have taken good fin shots, ask a coordinator for help, or just put them onto
the system. Please dont just delete them.
Always try to get photos of as many different individuals as you can

AWF
What to do with your data
“It’s horrifying that we have to fight our own
government to save the environment” - Ansel Adams

Data Sheet after the boat
Data Processing
The data should be entered into either, the bottlenose dolphin, pilot whale or migrating species data
entry sheets. Migrating specie is anything that is not a pilot whale or a bottlenose dolphin!
To access this, you need to open the database file from the desktop, select the relevant folder i.e.
pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins or migrating species, and then select the spreadsheet that has
volunteer in the title.
This is the sheet where you should enter the data off the sheets. The first two columns are for you
to enter your name and the date you are entering the data on.
Further explanation on entering the data is pinned up next to the computers in the resource room,
but it is pretty self explanatory.
When entering data it is important that you save you work at regular intervals or you will
lose it!
Once the data has been entered you must sign or initial the top of the sheet and put the date on
it. Then put it into the relevant tray ready for filing. Sheets should NOT be left floating around the
resource room or left in packs.
Mixed species interaction sheets should be given to a coordinator once the data has been entered.
Photos after the boat
Get a USB cable off a co-ordinator, Connect camera to the computer, Switch on the camera and it
will automatically connect, there is NO special setting it has to be on.
Go to Fin shots on the desktop and double click to open. Open either bottlenose dolphins or pilot
whales, depending on which your photos are of, then find the correct boat folder.
Create a new folder in here with the date on which the photos were taken, Then in here create
folders for the different trips you went on, Label these folders as follows 15.09.06 am and 15.09.06
pm (if you only have a trip in the morning and afternoon i.e. most boats ) or 15.09.06 trip1 etc (if you
have more than an am and pm trip i.e. the Monte Carlo), If there were then more than one
interaction per trip, label the folders 15.09.06am1 or 15.09.06trp1(1).
Ensure you then paste the correct photos into the correct folders, taking care to make sure the
correct photos are separated into the corresponding folder.
The photos should be named with the date and boat name i.e. 15.09.06 Royal. If you select all of
the photos in the folder, right click, select rename, type in 15.09.06 Royal into the first photo that
was taken in that interaction, it will automatically give each one a number.
Once you have uploaded all of your photos on to the computer, wipe the memory card clean before
giving it back to a co-ordinator. To do this go to playback mode, menu, press the right button, then
down once, then press menu/ok.

AWF
Threats
“There’s more to life than simply increasing its speed”
- Ghandi

What is Pollution?
“The act of making dirty, contaminating, corrupting.”
The introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy liable to cause hazard to
human health, harm to living resources and ecological systems, damage to the structure or amenity
or, interference with the legitimate use of the environment.
Source of Input
Shipping
Ships carry toxic substances,
oil, natural gas, pesticides etc.
Shipwrecks and other
accidents!
Main Threats to Cetaceans
Offshore
All materials dumped at
dumping grounds, litter,
dredging spoil,
sewage sludge etc.
Atmospheric
Discharges from the sea,
returned to the sea, via rain
or particulate fall out.
Organic material (toxic algal Oil) little is known about the direct effects on cetaceans 1989, ten Gray
whales found dead on Alaskan beach coated in oil from Exxon Valdez can only guess the extent on
the whole marine environment.
Metals organisms vary widely in their ability to regulate their metal content, metals that cannot be
excreted remain in the body and are added to - they bioaccumulate at the top of the food chain.
Halogenated Hydrocrabons chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine high levels of mass dieoffs of
marine mammals since the 1980’s, linked to high levels of PCB’s found in the dead animals.
Solid materials 70% of bottom trawls of Mediterranean contained debris, Alaska 57% and Bering
sea 40% Most of the litter is eventually stranded on the shore line. Most litter comes from shipping
and fishing areas, some comes from waste tips on the coast. Plastics whilst being inert to marine
organisms, acquire encrusting organisms, algae, barnacles and tunicates, these are then ingested
by larger animals.

Over fishing leads to depletion of prey resources
We are ‘fishing down’ marine food webs, landing smaller less commercially valuable species as the
larger preferred species disappear. This change to smaller plankton feeding fish, reduces the prey
for larger fish, marine mammals and sea birds. The tuna purse seine fishing industry is the second
largest killer of dolphins worldwide
In 1972 the estimated annual incidental kill
of dolphins in fishery tuna exceeded 400,000
Either exhausted and stressed from the high speed chase or paralysed with fear can become entangled
and drown. Those caught alive are dragged through the boats power block and crushed.
Even if released are shocked and injured being easy prey for sharks. Explosive devices are used to
disorientate the dolphins to herd them into the nets,
but they aim and kill.
Cetaceans at Risk
Long-Finned Pilot Whales in the north Atlantic
are currently vulnerable to prey depletion due to
over-fishing of squid.
Irrawaddy Dolphins are threatened by a
reduction of fish in Indonesian rivers.

Habitat Degradation
Natural habitat of marine life, including cetaceans is being affected by the combination of pollution,
ozone depletion and climate change. Global warming will alter the current pattern of cetacean prey
species and hence cetacean distribution and abundance. Climate change will rob these species of
their vital habitat.
The effects of climate change
Shift in food resources around the world. Whales will have to move to less favourable habitats,
but
populations which have been forced to live in these habitats, become weaker or cannot adapt,
become trapped and die.
Increase pollution. There have been a number of
large scale die offs. Initially these were put down to
disease/infection, but it was later found to be a result
of pollution
Increase risk of and susceptibility to disease
Climatic change increase the threat of new and
existing diseases by: increasing growth, introducing
new viruses, bacteria and parasite. Allowing spread
of tropical viruses with warmer oceans.
Drastic decrease in ice cover over both poles.
The artic is already undergoing large scale warming
leading to the break up of the sea ice. Cetaceans associated with these ice habitats will be
particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of climate change. Areas previously covered in ice
become free, there is an increase in human activity and intervention, therefore whales and other
marine animals lose their refuges. Areas become more open to shipping, oil prospecting and tourism.

A wild female Orca can live up to 80 yrsand a male up to 50yrs.
In captivity the average life span of an Orca is 5.2 yrs.
Cetaceans are highly sociable animals, they live in very close family groups and it is unnatural for
them to be split from their families.
Whales in captivity die form capture shock, pneumonia, intestinal disease, ulcers, chlorine poising and
other stress related illnesses.
Whales and dolphins are forced to breed with cetaceans that they would not normally breed with,
cetaceans from other pods or other parts of the world.
A wild Orca can travel up to 100 miles a day not even the largest tank can allow for this type of activity.
Aggression has never been witnessed within or between wild Orca families, several such acts have
been witnessed in captivity.
Currently there are 48 killer whales in captivity, hundreds of bottlenose dolphins, pacific white-sided
dolphins, beluga whales, common dolphins and even a grey whale.
Whales and dolphins of marine parks entertain millions of visitors every year. Sea World has 10
million visitors every year generating an income of $400-500 million. 173 Orcas have been taken into
captivity or born in captivity since 1961. 125 of these are now dead. 31% of all captive-born Orcas
have died within 42 days of birth70% of which is generated by the 19 Orcas they have captive.

Human exploitation of whales dates back over 6000 yrs in Alaska and 4000yrs in Norway, Whales
are an extremely valuable source of meat, skin, bone and oil. Although subsistence whaling would
have had an effect on whale populations, it was not until the 1850’s when commercial whaling began
that a significant impact was felt. More whales were killed in four decades than in the previous four
centuries. The great whales soon became over exploited, beginning with the easiest to catch and
the most profitable.
Since this ban on whaling over 22,000
of great whales alone have been killed.
The Northern Right Whale was the first to suffer, being a slow swimmer containing a vast amount
of oil and floating when dead. It is now the rarest in the world, with only 300 individuals left today.
Named the right whale, as it was the right one to catch!
In part of Japan fishermen surround and trap pods of dolphins driving them inshore until they beach,
once stranded they are massacred and sold on the black market.
Japan kills more than 500 minke whales each year for “scientific whaling,” more than 400 of these
are taken from the Southern Ocean Sanctuary which was declared free from whaling in 1994.

Photo Identity
The shutter release button has two different positions. Pressing it halfway down will turn on the autofocus
system and exposure meter. When the lens has focused on the object it will make some sort of
noise to indicate that it has focused or there will be a light that comes up in the LCD of the lens to let
you know that it is ready to take the shot. Pushing the shutter release button all the way in, will actually
take the photo. You should get used to this before using the camera on the boats. Any queries should
be referred to the coordinators who should have a pretty good idea how to work the cameras and if not
can find out the manuals for them. A good tip is to follow te individuals with the camera, on autofocus,
then the second they surface press the button the whole way down.
A shot of the top of the observation sheet should be taken at the start of every new trip. In between interactions
a control shot should be taken. This can be a photo of anything, the crew, your feet, tourists
or if you are very organised another shot of your observation sheet. This will make it easier for you to
see which shots belong to each interaction and make it much quicker for you to sort your photos out.
Once the photos have been filed away into the correct files on the computer, one of the volunteers will
go through the images and see if they can be identified. If they can not, the problem with identification
is written in the file name. Those that can be identified are, and the individuals number and name is
saved as the file name. A coordinator will then check this. Once they have done so they will put their
initials at the end of the file name, so it is obvious which files have been checked. The individuals that
have been identified will then be linked to the interaction data in the main databases and entered by
a coordinator. They will also ensure that the individuals that have been identified are attached to the
sightings sheet.
If you are unsure if you have taken good fin shots, ask a coordinator for help, or just put them onto the
system. Please dont just delete them.
Always try to get photos of as many different individuals as you can

AWF
General Information
“Washing one’s hand’s of the conflict
between the powerful and the powerless means
to side with the powerful not to be neutral” - Paulo Freire

Classifications
The order CETACEA is divided into three subgroups:
ODONTOCETI
or ‘toothed whales’
- All of these species have teeth,
feeding largely or fish and squid
- They have an external blowhole
- Their throat pleats are absent
MYSTICETI
or ‘moutached whales’
- A series of plates grow down from
the roof of the whales mouth made
of baleen (keratin),the outer edge is
smooth, the inner edge is bristly in
structure allowing the whales to act
as giant filter feeders.
- They feed on small krill, copepods
& small schooling fish.
- They have two external blow holes
- Throat pleats are often present to
allow expansion when feeding
Cetaceans share the majority of mammalian features with their terrestrial
counterparts:
- They give birth to live young and produce milk from mammary glands
- They’re warm blooded, maintaining a core temperature of 36 - 37oC
- Breathe air with the aid of lungs
ARCHAEOCETI
or ‘ancient whales’
Now Extinct!

Adaptations
However their aquatic lives have produced
a number of adaptations:
- Torpedo shaped, streamlined for ease
of movement and to reduce drag lateral
expansion of the integument of the tail
to form a pair of flukes, these caudal fins
serve as the main propulsive surface.
- Neck vertebratae are fused into a single
mass giving the neck region an ill-defined
external appearance.
- External hinds limbs absent, forelimbs
modified to form flippers (pectoral fins),
with fingers enclosed within a common
integument.
- The back bears an extension of the
integument forming a triangular or sickle - shaped dorsal fin.
- Ear pinnae are absent, the external ear is a small hole which reduces friction.
- In toothed cetaceans the upper lip is hypertrophied to form a large bulbous mass of fat, the ‘melon’.
Hair has been virtually lost and to help maintain a stable body temperature have an insulating layer
of subcutaneous blubber.
- The nostrils ‘blowhole’ are situated on the top of the head allowing a quick breath at the surface. For
diving the blowhole is closed by a special ring of muscle to prevent water flooding the nasal passage.

- The eyes of cetaceans are protected from the salt
water by a greasy secretion from the tear ducts, and
the curvature of the lens can be changed to allow
focusing in and out of water.
- Cetaceans are able to attain large size, as water
supports their body weight. The skeleton is formed
of relatively light spongy bone, which would be
inadequate to support the equivalent weight on land.

The Food Chain
- Plankton means ‘that which drifts’
- Phytoplankton are the bottom of the marine food chain and responsible for 90% of the primary
productivity of the oceans.
- Phytoplankton include diatoms, dinoflagellates, protozoans - all capable of photosynthesis - the
primary producers.
- Primary producers provide the food for primary consumers, the zooplankton which are larval forms
of marine animals.
- These provide food for the nekton - free swimming animals. Energy is transferred through the
marine food chain.
Plankton
- The distribution of different species of Cetaceans is determined by the productivity of the oceans,
which is determined by the plankton.

- Concentrations of plankton usually occur in areas where nutrients are plentiful and surface waters
provide light and warmth for photosynthesis.
- These concentrations are referred to as plankton fronts, and may be induced by tides, the meeting
of currents of different temperatures, changes in the topography of the continental shelves etc.
- Concentrations of plankton form focal points for fish predators & seabird & cetaceans feeding
directly on the plankton or the associated fish.
- This explains why cetaceans are not distributed randomly throughout the world’s oceans.
Phytoplankton & Migration
- Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom of the ocean, and are only bought to the surface in areas of
upwelling of cold deep waters.
- These conditions only occur at certain times in certain parts of the world: - High latitudes, for a short
period in -the summer - Intermediate latitudes, in spring and autumn.
- When conditions are favourable there is a massive production of phytoplankton, which can increase
threefold in a single day, leading to plankton bloom.
- These plankton blooms attract animals to feed, this gives other food supplies which are limiting in
their abundance, time to regenerate and replenish

Feeding
The ways different Cetaceans obtain their food depends on the type of food they prey upon and its
own behaviour
The Mysticeti (baleen) whales feed singularly or in twos - their food intake is such that plankton
concentrations may rarely be sufficient to support larger numbers of animals.
The Odontoceti (toothed) cetaceans feed upon prey that is distributed in a clumped manner -
locating the schools of prey is a collective group experience. This assumes the animals will
communicate with each other & co-operate. Echolocation play a major role here to provide an acoustic
picture of the surroundings by their reflection off solid surfaces.
Feeding and methods
Many species have bouts of feeding activity followed by periods of rest.
The feeding method depends on the Cetaceans and on the activity of the prey.
Baleen whales capture their food by gulping & skimming.
Humpback whales use ‘bubble netting’.
This is when a group of humpbacks swim in a shrinking circle
blowing bubbles.
Humpbacks also ‘flick-feed’ using its tail.
used when feeding on the surface. Humpback use a flick of a tail
and a bubble cloud to corral fish.

Male & Female Organs
Male
Blue whales engulf large quantities of
krill which distend their throat pleats.
In order to sieve the krill from the water,
the tongue forces water through 270 - 400
tightly spaced 1metre long baleen plates
that hang from the lower jaw.
Blue whales need 1.5 million calories per
day but only feed for half the year (the
other half is spent in warmer waters where
they breed).
- In most whales the penis is approximately one tenth the length of the body.
- The penis is of exceptional size , up to 3m long with a basal diameter of 30cm.
- Most of the length is convoluted and contained within the body cavity where it is held in place by
two retractor muscles.
- When the retractor muscles become slack, the muscles relax and the penis straightens out. This
is partly due to its elasticity, partly due to an inrush of blood within the penis tissue.
- The penis emerges from the body through a genital slit, usually covered with a flap of skin, the
prepuce.
- Testes are located internally and kept cool by a counter current heat exchange system.
Female
- The vagina appears as a smooth slit in the ventral surface, but internally takes the form of a
series of folds leading to the uterus.
- The cervix is thick walled and has a narrow entrance which may help to keep seawater out the
main body of the uterus.
growth of the offsprings by transferring large amounts of fat.

Water balance in marine mammals
- Food eaten by Cetaceans varies in its salt content. Baleen whales ingest seawater with the food,
further adding to the salt problem.
- A whale can drink a litre of seawater and have a net gain of one-third litre of pure water after the
salts are excreted!
- The kidneys of the whale can produce urine more concentrated than sea water.
- Excretory organs play an important role in osmoregulation – the maintenance of a balanced
water and solute concentration, in addition to their function to remove metabolic end products and
detoxification.
- The kidneys of Cetaceans are efficient, being made up of many functional units called reniculi.
These are effectively lots of ‘small’ kidneys.
- A further way of reducing water loss in females is to produce a more concentrated milk which
also increases its fat & protein content. This has the advantage of increasing the growth of the
offsprings by transferring large amounts of fat.
Copulation, Birth & Gestation
- This varies greatly between species but requires careful coordination of swimming and breathing!
- Humpback whales stand vertically on their tails, chest to chest.
- Grey whales lie side by side at the surface on their backs, and role, often assisted by a second
male to maintain their position!
- Several attempts of penetration over a couple of hours are required and intercourse lasts 10 to
30 seconds! Most cetaceans are polygamists and mate for pleasure and reproduction. Immature
males practice sexual contact and touching on each other.

- The gestation period varies with species.
- Migratory whales will travel to warm, shallow waters with an abundant food supply to give birth.
- The calf is born tail first and blowhole last to minimise the risk of drowning – known as caudal
presentation.
- The umbilical cord is thick and the intertwined blood vessels make it tough and rigid –
this prevents it from getting crushed during the birthing process.
- When the calf emerges, the umbilical cord is put under strain and snaps.The placenta, foetal
membrane and the remaining portion of the umbilical cord are produced after a considerable time
8 or 9 hours after the actual birth.
- The mother urges the newborn calf to the surface in a matter of seconds after birth.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every
AWF
Marine Life
man’s need but not every man’s greed” - Ghandi

Turtles
Marine turtles are reptiles that are adapted to the marine environment. Most of their life is spent offshore
although they must come onshore to lay their eggs. As turtles have lungs rather than gills they
must surface to breathe.
They feed mainly on small fish, molluscs, jellyfish and zooplankton. Instead of having teeth turtles
have a powerful beak made of horn.
Turtle make long migrating journeys related to their reproductive cycle. To lay eggs the females must
come on shore and lays their eggs in deep nests on the beach. The young hatch after 60 days.
The turtles found in the waters off the Canary Islands are generally migrating and so it is rare to come
across a large group.
Live specimens are rarely seen in the canary islands although dead
leatherbacks occasionally wash up on the shore or found drifting in
nets. A well as being the only species with a soft hell, the leatherhead is
also the largest marine turtle reaching 2m in length and weighing over
100kg.
Rarely reported in the Canary Islands, this species makes only very
small migrations in the mating season and is commonly considered to
be a sedentary species, as it can be found along all the coral reefs in
the world.
The smallest of the marine turtles not exceeding 75cm in length this
turtle follows the gulf stream occasionally reaching the coasts of the
Canary Islands.
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Common in the
waters of the Canary Islands the green turtle can grow to over 1m and weigh
up to 200kg. The green turtle additionally feeds on small algae.

The most frequent turtle in the Canary Islands can occasionally be
seen in small groups. It can grow up to 1.5m and weigh up to 100kg.
Rays
Represented globally by nearly 500 species, rays account for over half of all elasmobranch fish;
they are sedentary fish commonly living on rocky or sandy seabeds.
Round stingray, live mainly on muddy and sandy bottoms near the shore
to a depth of 90cm, but in summer can be found basking in shallow
inlets. They feed during the day using a combination of sight, smell and
vibrations. Often found in small groups of 10.
Manta ray, unlike most ray species these fish prefers open water. Often
spotted in the summer months in groups of several dozen. They can
grow to have a wingspan of over 4m.
Other rays that can also be spotted: marbled electric, butterfly ray, common
stingray, Black and white, eagle and bishop rays.

Giant Squid
Giant squid are the largest invertebrates on earth,
reaching lengths of 20 m. The average size of the giant
squid is 6 to 13 meters. The mantle alone would be about
1 to 2.5 meters. The average weight is estimated to be 50
to 300 kg.
Even at half-size, giant squid will have outgrown all
potential predators except sperm whales
These mysterious creatures are rarely seen alive and live
at depths above 400 metres.
Giant squid can be found in the deep waters between Tenerife and La Gomera.
Squid can release ink when they are threatened which clouds the surrounding water, hiding them
from predators.
These huge beasts have been described in European legends about sea monsters for centuries,
even today we cannot fail to be impressed by their size.
Sharks
Sharks are cartilaginous fish, making up around 1% of
all living fish. In the waters around Tenerife and the
Canary Islands 7 species can be found
Basking shark - this is a massive shark up to 9m which
swims slowly with its mouth open collecting plankton. It
is occasionally seen around the canaries
Smooth hammerhead - this is the one most likely to be
seen from a boat. Can grow 2-3 m. easily recognised
by its hammer shaped head and its olive to grey colouring. They migrate in a clockwise pattern
around the N. atlantic following the currents.
Mako shark - can grow upto 4 m and is potentially dangerous. Can reach speeds of 70km per hour.
It has crescent shaped tail fin and an indigo blue back.
Angel sharks, Blue shark, Whale shark and smooth hound sharks are also found in the canaries.

Sea Birds
Common birds seen on Tenerife whale-watching boats:
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Osprey sea eagle (Pandion haliaetus Aguila Pescadora)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis)
Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)
Snowy/Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta Garceta Comun)
Little Egrets are often seen flying together in the afternoon, where they will find a spot to roost together
for the night.
Herring Gulls are opportunistic feeders, and will eat anything, including the eggs of other sea birds
Ospreys live in the cliffs of Los Gigantes, and are one of the only raptors that primarily eats fish

Contacts
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Atlantic Whale Foundation
London
St Martins House
59 St Martins Lane
Covent garden
London
WC2H 4JN
Tel: 00 44 7847324440
edb@whalenation.org
Atlantic Whale Foundation
Spain
Casa de los Delfines
Calle Virgen de Fatima, 5-7
Vento
Arona
Tenerife
Espana
Tel: 0034 922725736
edb@whalenation.org
General Telephone Numbers
Country code: 34 Reina
Sofia International Airport - 922 77 00 50
Los Rodeos Airport - 922 63 58 00
Titsa Buses (Guagua) - 922 21 56 99
Radio Taxis - 922 64 11 12
Traffic - Police- Civil Guard - 922 25 55 48
Mobile Numbers
- 639976045
- 686165319
- 606220255
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Red Cross - 922 28 29 24
Medical Emergencies - 061
Police - Tourist Attention - 922 21 25 11
National Police - 091
Local Police - 092
Citizen Information - 010

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c r e a t i v e
With thanks to Laura Bevan & James Charman
for providing single images for this induction pack.