Tuesday 14 July 2015

Enrico goes to Walvis Bay

By Enrico Corsi - Namibian Dolphin Project intern June-Aug 2015

I’m almost halfway through my internship with the NDP and in this brief period, I feel like I’ve learned more about the research world than in all my previous academic and field experiences. Every day I learn something new, gain new skills and become more confident about myself.

I’m becoming more familiar with the day to day running of the project and the research techniques we use. I am also enjoying meeting the public and teaching them about the animals we study.
Boat work is by far the most rewarding and exciting activity I’ve ever done in my life. Every cetacean encounter is just as amazing as the first one, I never grow tired of looking for dolphins and whales. The bottlenose come so close to our house that sometimes we can jump on a kayak and be surrounded by them in a matter of seconds.

The team is great, I couldn’t possibly have asked for a better group. All the people who work or study here are fun and welcoming, they manage to create the perfect learning and  working environment, you’ll never be homesick, you’ll start feeling at home in a matter of days.

I’m here until the end of August and am really looking forward to the time I have left. I just got off the boat and, in all honesty, I can’t wait to jump back on it tomorrow!

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN LEAPING IN THE LAGOON WHILE WE WERE OUT ON THE KAYAK COLLECTING ACOUSTIC DATA - PHOTO BY ENRICO CORSI

ENRICO AND THE TEAM  (AND TEAM MASCOT ) SEARCHING FOR DOLPHINS FROM SHORE ON A NON GREAT WEATHER DAY

FANTASTIC HUMPBACK WHALE BREACH