Photo albums

Cetacean Sanctuary Research

The research

Visual surveys

Acoustic surveys

Behavioural sampling of fin whales, striped and Risso's dolphins

The dive profile of an individual striped dolphin

Individual photo-identification of Risso's dolphins

Photo-identification of long-finned pilot whales and of a fin whale from the dinghy

Sabina Airoldi with the carcass of a common bottlenose dolphin found at sea

By "touching" the dolphins with a special sponge on top of a long pole,
tiny skin fragments can be collected for genetic analyses

Dedicated software developed by the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW)
indicates the location of a sperm whale

During the phot-identification of sperm whales a photogrammetry technique is also applied,
using a laser range finder. This technique enables to estimate the body lenght of the individuals photographed

Collection of faecal samples of sperm whales enable to investigate the species' feeding habits

Collection of faecal samples of a fin whale

A v-TDR (velocity-time-depth recorder) is attached to a fin whale by means
of a suction cup to investigate diving behaviour

A v-TDR attached to a pilot whale has shown its extraordinary diving capabilities

Researchers and project participants engaged in processing of cetacean photos and
in the attempt of a preliminary identification of the individuals sighted at sea