Study the whale shark in Madagascar on the island of Nosy Be. A scientific voyage in the waters around the Mozambique Channel, a place where marine biodiversity is particularly rich. All cetacean missions here.
Whale shark study in the Mozambique Channel
The research project involves studying the various cetacean species in the waters off Nosy Be, a Madagascan island in the Mozambique Channel. To date, the marine megafauna in this part of the Indian Ocean has been little studied, in particular the whale shark, which is very present in the region. Scientific research programs will enable us to better protect this marine megafauna, by adopting appropriate protection measures.
The shark with a thousand stars
The study of cetaceans involves photo-identification. Each species can be identified by a unique part of its body. This is the caudal fin for whales and the dorsal fin for dolphins. Whale sharks, on the other hand, are identified by a unique combination of spots between the pectoral and dorsal fins. It's these spots that earn them the nickname "the shark with a thousand stars".
Analysis of individual movement
The photos collected are entered into an existing database. They provide additional information on the location and behavior of the individuals observed. Once analyzed, the data collected gives an idea of the movements of individuals at different scales. Our partner works with the Madagascar Whale Shark Project Foundation.
Marine megafauna observation
Your days will be punctuated by sea outings in Nosy Be Bay, in search of marine megafauna. For 11 days, you'll take a census and identify various species, including the whale shark and the green turtle. You'll embark on small motorboats. In the mornings, your observations will focus on marine species, which you will learn to identify and photograph.
Searching for green turtles
The afternoon will be devoted to finding green turtles. You'll have to count them and assess the state of their environment. Nosy Be's green turtles live in an ecosystem consisting essentially of a seagrass bed that is currently being damaged by tourist activities. Without the maintenance of this seagrass bed, green turtle populations cannot survive.
At the end of the day, back on land, you will analyze and classify the photos taken during the day. A two-day, one-night bivouac is planned at Nosy Iranja to study the marine megafauna of this remote area.
What you will learn during your stay
During this participative science trip, you'll learn about the importance of photo-identification for studying cetaceans. You'll be able to draw up a biodiversity inventory using a scientific protocol. You'll learn how to identify different species and locate them using GPS.
- October 23 to November 2, 2024
- Price: €3,965 - €1,348 after tax deduction
- Not included in the price
Air tickets
Travel insurance
Personal effects
- Included in the price
Accommodation
Food
Supervision by two scientific educators
Tax deduction *
The NGO partner Objectif Sciences international is recognized for the quality, usefulness, solidarity and educational nature of its stays and training courses dedicated to achieving the goals of sustainable development. The NGO operates on the donation-action principle. A person makes a donation and participates in an NGO action. Note that the person making the donation may be different from the person taking the action. As such, the cost of the training or scientific stay is tax-deductible up to 66% in France.
- From age 16 - adults
- Language: French and English
- Accommodation
You will be staying at the Hotel Ylang, in a room equipped with a mosquito net. During the bivouac, the night will be spent in a bungalow, also equipped with mosquito nets.
- Travel
Travel on foot and by boat. To get to the reserve, you'll take bush cabs.
You'll be staying on a beautiful island off the coast of Madagascar with a unique flora and fauna. In addition to the green turtle and the whale shark, you'll be able to observe:
The humpback whale, the pantropical spotted dolphin, the humpback dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, the long-beaked dolphin, the short-finned pilot whale, the hawksbill turtle, the leatherback turtle, the omura whale, the mobula ray, the manta ray...
You'll also discover the richness of Madagascan culture.
The NGO partner
Partner NGO Objectif Sciences international has Special Consultative Status with the UN (ECOSOC) and is a member of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition. Specializing in scientific trips, science and participatory research, the NGO believes that education is the driving force behind the Sustainable Development Goals. It offers a range of participatory science trips for adults and minors. All OSI programs here
