Welcome to our Volunteer/Intern blog

March 07, 2011 by dyertrust

We have had and excellent group of volunteers and interns for the month of January stretching from all around the world. We can actually say it was the United Nations in Kleinbaai for this month. There was Noelle -USA, Blair and BenAustralia, UrielNetherlands, MaireadIreland, DavidUK, NicoleUSA and IngoGermany.

The sharks for this month was also really good and the volunteers had the chance to participate in thetagging and trackingof our fourth great white shark, Nina.

The dives were all good but with the water a little bit cold the volunteers still had an amazing time.

A part from just working (as non of them minded because this is just so much fun), we did have the ocasional no sea days due to strong winds and rough seas. The volunteers did all sorts of great things such as horse riding, quad biking (be aware of Uriel, that is now known as the flying dutchman), trip to Cape Town and learned how to surf as well as visit our feathery friends, the penguins at Bettys Bay. They also had a very educational tour at our localabalonefarm.

There was also an Elephant seal reported at Franskraal of being very weak, that the volunteers had a chance to help with taking photos and logging the data. The seal was a very young female. The next day she was reported near the Kleinbaai harbour, so we believe that she will be just fine. With all the fun and excitement we also had to take a break and educate the volunteers on our conservation and marine species, so we had some lectures by our 4marine biologists. There was also plenty of data to be captured.

Afterall work is done there was some time just to relax and what better place than Kleinbaai. The volunteers frequently went to the beach and I was lucky because they loved taking my dogs with. Staying at home was sometimes the option just to have a beer or teach the girls how to play cricket. Mairead made her friend, the tortoise, which lived outside her bedroom window. In the evenings there was always lot of fun going to dinner or playing pool and dancing.

Please visit us again and be a part of our blog and give us your comments. To join our programme or have any enquiries, please contact me atPioneering research studying the behaviour of Great White Sharks has been launched by a conservation charity, theWilfred Chivell, founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust received a call from Matie Nowens who had found an injuredDyer Island Conservation Trust marine biologist, and self-professed Orca fanatic,The Orcas at Danger Point seemed to be foraging on sardines in the bay. There were many bait-balls of fish which were accompanied by Cape Gannets, Bryde’s whales, and cormorants. One Orca would spy hop (lift its head completely out of the water) and then the two would head toward a nearby group of gannets. Once there, one would spy hop again, and then move towards the next group of gannets. Once the two began to move offshore, the Whale Whisperer departed the pair.

Thanks to the employees of the I & J Abalone farm near Danger Point who called later in the day to alert us of the sighting. We greatly appreciate all the help we receive from the public on unusual sightings and strandings in the bay.