Volunteer Dolphin Research Volunteers South Africa Working with Dolphins and Whales South Africa

"Volunteer work is not for the faint hearted, but the rewards are great, Helping people and wildlife since 2001"

   
The Centre for Dolphin Studies offers the unique opportunity for volunteers working as Dolphin and Whale research volunteers The project is an internationally recognized marine mammal research institute. Established in 1989 by its present director Dr. Vic Cockcroft, the Project aims to promote the research and conservation of Southern African marine mammals. The launch of this research institute evolved from the need to know more about the Western Indian Ocean, and particularly Southern African whales, dolphins, seals and other marine animals. Of course, increasing coastal degradation placed added emphasis on this need for more information.

INTRODUCTION

The (CDS) was first established in 1990, by its present director Dr. Vic Cockcroft.  It has since become a world recognised, non-profit research and environmental education institute.  Evolving from a need to expand our knowledge of Western Indian Ocean, and in particular, Southern African, coastal  and deep-sea marine mammals, CDS researchers and volunteers have completed more then 30 research programmes and in excess of 145 publications.  This has made the CDS the most productive marine mammal research organization in Africa.

 In 1999 we began a volunteer programme at the CDS in order to help with our research, conservation and awareness programmes and to generate funds to support our research. Volunteers are asked to get involved in a range of duties and jobs: from assisting with ongoing research projects, helping with stranded seals and dolphins, washing dolphin bones and assembling skeletons for educational purposes, giving talks at local schools, helping with beach cleanups, data input, etc., etc.

 Where are we?

The CDS is based in Plettenberg Bay on the southern coast of South Africa, a small town near Knysna and George and about 500 km east of Cape Town. There is easy access to many of the country's most beautiful beaches and nature parks.  

 Plettenberg Bay is world famous for its scenic beauty, pristine beaches and diverse marine mammal fauna. Bottlenose dolphins can be seen almost every day (group sizes average about 60-100 animals). Humpback dolphins, although not seen as often, also reside in the bay. Other marine mammals seen often, if irregularly, in the bay include common dolphins, killer whales and Bryde’s whales. In ‘official’ whale season, between July and November, we can see southern right whales every day. During this time our boats also often see humpback whales, especially in May and June and between November and January. There is a large Cape fur seal colony in the bay, where numbers of animals can reach about 3000.

 What will you do?

Your work will vary, depending on what is required at the time that you volunteer. We ask you to be enthusiastic, adaptable and willing to “muck in and get your hands dirty”.

 Duties and/or jobs that you may experience while you are with the CDs include:

Helping with data collection and analysis for ongoing projects, especially with regards to population parameters of coastal dolphins, whales and Cape fur seals. Field-based research includes photographing animals, tracking their movements and mapping habitat use in the Plettenberg Bay area.

Land-based whale and dolphin surveys

Office-based duties include data analysis, record keeping and administration.

You will have the opportunity to accompany commercial tourist boats out into the bay, to experience the natural beauty of the area and to try and obtain photographs, which can be used to identify individual animals.

You will be trained in the different research techniques and small workshops held during your stay will be used to give you an insight into methodology used during dolphin research, such as fin profile identification, prey identification, etc.

 Bottlenose and Humpback Dolphins, Brydes and Humpback Whales

Research is done on all the different species and some of the data are gathered by going out on the research boat, or possibly even the tourist boat, to take photographs of the dolphins and whales. It must be noted that these projects are seasonal and depend very much on the presence of the animals along the coast. The photographs are to provide fin profiles for identification, population estimates and distribution studies. Photographs and data sheets compiled during research trips form a vital part of the ongoing study of marine mammals along the south-eastern Cape coast. Much of the work you will participate in is part of a much larger ecological study, ongoing since the early 1980’s. Field research is combined with office-based analysis of fin profiles, notch characteristics and the efficient placing of animals within the catalogue. This provides valuable information on the animals’ migration patterns and social groups and habits.

 On average, trips to sea on the research boat take place once to twice a week. Trip length is generally 4 hours but trips can run as long as 6-7 hours, depending on the number of animals and/or species in the area. Please note: This activity is weather dependent and also related to other duties of research students at the CDS. The Centre also runs trips out of Knysna, although these are not run on a regular basis. You may be lucky enough to partake in one of these, depending on the duration of your stay.

 Humpback Whales

Humpback whale work done by the CDS includes photographing hump/fin profiles and tail fluke patterns for identification purposes, in conjunction with taking skin biopsy samples. This is an exciting, field-based study but it is dependent on the availability of researchers and whales, as humpback whales do migrate seasonally. Samples are taken as they pass along the coastline – primarily from May to November.

 Seal Project

Research with this species covers many facets and includes counting animals on the colony, collecting faeces for prey identification purposes and liaising with fishermen in the area to identify the food the seals eat. The colony is visited every two weeks in conjunction with a Nature Conservation ranger. This involves a hike and some rock climbing on the Robberg Nature Reserve. It can be a very smelly experience but it is quite amazing to climb down into the colony and be surrounded by seals!! 

 One of the many projects that the Centre is involved in is educating the local children.  It may be that the children come to the Centre on a field trip or you may be assigned to visit the local schools to give lectures on basic environmental issues.  For this purpose, you may be asked to help construct an Information Board and/or other visual aids, including literature and other types of information to be used for your lectures.  One of the major priorities of the Centre is to educate the local people and raise awareness of marine mammals and the habitat they live in.

 Another of the Centre’s activities is the rescue and rehabilitation of penguins, sea birds, seals and sometimes even dolphins and whales. Rescue operations come out of the blue (pardon the pun). One moment everything is going along quite normally, the next everyone is racing down to the beach to help direct a rescue operation.

 Unfortunately, the majority of live strandings do not end happily and animals have to be put down. However, these animals are an integral part of CDS research. One must remember that most of what is known about whales and dolphins, worldwide, comes from work done on dead animals. During your stay with the CDS, you may participate in either a dolphin or seal dissection and post mortem, depending on animals available. You can either watch from afar, or, if you would rather get your hands dirty, CDS researchers welcome volunteers who like to get ‘stuck in’.

 Working ‘hours’

The general hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., although these are flexible. Nothing at the CDS is set in stone and work rosters are notoriously difficult to set up as something more interesting always comes up!! You will be asked to work Monday to Friday. You may be asked to help out over weekends but generally you can spend Saturdays and Sundays relaxing on the beach, exploring the local forests or enjoying some of the many activities that the area has to offer. Bring extra money if you want to learn to scuba dive, bungy jump or go black water tubing – all at discounted prices for CDS volunteers.

Accommodation

During your stay you will stay in a cottage on Vic and Debbie Cockcroft’s farm, located about 7 km outside the town of Plettenberg Bay, set in the most stunning surroundings. The property shares boundaries with the Knysna Elephant Park and often you’ll wake up to elephants just a few metres away, hanging their heads over the fence.

 Depending on the number of volunteers, you may have your own room, or you may be asked to share with between one other volunteer, depending on which room you are allocated. The house accommodates a maximum of 10 volunteers and is equipped with a large living/dining/kitchen area, five private bedrooms, each with their own basin, three showers and three toilets. An outside deck area allows volunteers to relax after work and watch the elephants as they browse on the other side of the fence.

 Bed linen and a laundry service are provided.

Meals

The best volunteer photos can be viewed at our Volunteer Flickr album,
please come and have a look!

The following are the things we recommend volunteers bring with them.

Essential Items

Sunhat

Sunglasses

Wind Proof Jacket

T Shirts

Jersey and/or pullover (People are always surprised just how chilly it can get out here)

Shorts

Trousers

Walking Boots or Trainers

Sandals/Flip Flops

Swimming Costume/Trunks

Towels

Old clothes (some of the things we do are very smelly!!)

The following is a list of items that previous volunteers recommend future volunteers bring with them:

Very Useful Extras

Camera, Binoculars

Mosquito Repellent

Sunscreen

Books

CDs

Clothes for going out (there aren't too many places to party in Plett but volunteers do tend to visit most of them)

Please note that you can extend for any length of time
(min 1 month)

ZAR 3950 per week South African Rands

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Volunteers pay a weekly fee which includes evening meal, accommodation and internship fees at the CDS.

1-2 Months

This project can be joined at any time of the year. We recommend arriving on a Monday

Suitable for persons of all ages

The Project is located on the Garden Route, Volunteers must arrange their flights to and from Port Elizabeth or Cape town airports and arrange their own transport to and from Plettenberg Bay

The general hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., although these are flexible from Monday to Friday

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All Africa Volunteers is registered with the Eastern Cape
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