GVI Kenya

Here at GVI we are fortunate to have volunteers from around the world join us to support our research and community work and of course learn about the incredible habitats, wildlife and culture of Kenya. Olga Bloemen has joined us on the expedition for 7 weeks, coming from the Netherlands, and shares the news of our marine research programme with you…

My first week on Wasini Island in Kenya is over already. Monday was filled with training activities such as dolphin and turtle identification, data recording procedures, dolphin behaviour and how to use the radio; “Base, base, base, this is squirrel, squirrel, squirrel. Do you copy? Over?”  I learned a lot but I couldn’t wait for Tuesday as it would be our first trip out on the boat searching for dolphins!!!

My alarm rang at 5am and I took a bucket shower under the stars which was amazing, although at that early hour, a bowl of Weetabix is all my stomach could stand! At 7am we were on the boat crossing the water between Shimoni and Wasini Island, heading for the open water. We soon spotted a group of Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins swimming just a few metres away from the boat, including a mother with her calf. The team of watchers scan the sea for hours and then someone spots a fin and the whole boat bursts into energy! How many are there? What is their behaviour? All information is recorded on the forms, but as important is to take photographs of the fins. These are used to identify the dolphins using the photo-identification catalogue and the mark re-capture programme.

A sighting is cool, but being on the watch and on the boat with the wind in my hair is what I enjoy the most. It feels a bit like riding the waves! The snorkeling, searching for turtles and all the tropical fish is also quite incredible… I can’t wait for my next marine research week!

Bye for now, Olga