Unprecedented Tracking and Photo-Identification Done With Help of Shore-Based Volunteers
The volunteers who took out extra time for scheduled
whale watching shifts at Marineland played a vital role in
the work MRC did this season. Coordinated by Jim Hain,
and Joy Hampp, Jim's assistant, volunteers watched the
water during four-hour shifts. Sightings were reported to
the MRC's whale sighting hotline, either directly or
through Jim Hain or Joy Hampp. MRC reported 5 calls
from the Marineland group to the U.S. NAVY to notify
ships in the area. In addition, valuable photo-
identification information was obtained that allowed
positive identification of two mother and calf pairs this
year. This allows scientists to track the whales, pinpoint
which whales visit the calving grounds during a given
year, and when their calves are born. Thank you to all the
volunteers for helping play such an important part in the
documentation of one of the world's rarest whales!
Next article: Volunteers Help Identify and Track Whales
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