Mundo Azul

There are more than 30 species of whales and dolphins registered in Peruvian waters (approximately 37 % of the world’s cetacean species). The most common species to observe close to the coast are Bottlenose dolphins).

There is however nearly nothing known about the total population size of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Peru, their ecology and spatial distribution, as well as the levels of threats they are exposed to. On the natural history and distribution of bottlenose dolphins as well as the development of their populations and the mayor threats present along the coast is key baseline information for any future dolphin conservation program, as well as for the promotion of dolphin watching tourism as a sustainable economic alternative to the ongoing illegal dolphin slaughter for human consumption.

Therefore Mundo Azul started a unique and pioneering bottlenose dolphin program covering at the moment 140 kms of the central Peruvian coastline and aiming to extend its coverage to 240 kms during the year 2007, stretching out from Limas capital Lima to the national Reserve of Paracas. The program’s goals are to identify the local groups and individual dolphins along the central Peruvian coast using photo-identification and to set up a long-term monitoring program in order to identify trends of population development. Read here about the different research programs Mundo Azul is about to start or which have been initiated.

See a video about the Dolphins of Pucusana
See a Video about the dolphins of Paracas joining our research boat
See a video about the dolphins of Paracas in a morning mood
See a video about the dolphins and other marine life near the fishing pier of Paracas

One of the ports used during the initial phase of this dolphin research program is the fishermen’s port of Pucusana as an operational base, which is located about 70 kilometers south of Lima in the center of the investigation area. The second area to investigate is the Bay of Paracas in the northern limit of the Paracas National Reserve. As a Volunteer researcher you will work in both areas.

Read here about the experiences of Mundo Azuls first Dolphin Volunteer Group.

So far (in its initial phase) the program managed to identify more than 300 dolphins, a number that will probably rise to around 500 during the following months. As a volunteer you will meet dolphins every day. Some dolphins closely approach the research boats.

See what international researcher, conservationists and leading wildlife photographers have to say about our whale and dolphin research, click here.

Apart of dolphins you will monitor sea bird populations near the port of Pucusana. You will take part in a Penguin monitoring program and you will be able to observe a great number of marine birds as well as sea lions.

Finally volunteers are actively engaged in marine wildlife rescue activities freeing animals being accidentally caught in fishing nets and registering bird and mammal bycatch.

As a volunteer in our dolphin research program, you will form an integral part of our research team, daily leaving port at Pucusana on Mundo Azul´s research vessel to collect important information on the dolphin population´s distribution area, their behavior and interactions. In Paracas we will work with an inflatable boat. You can choose taking part in a two weeks program or in a four weeks program.

Project Skills Required

Participation as a volunteer in the dolphin photo-identification project requires no specialized skill-set. You will be oriented and trained by our research team to participate fully in the project once you arrive at the study site. Although our field staff speaks English, a little Spanish is of course to your advantage in communications with local fishermen. The only skill we ask for is patience, which is important while learning a new language and negotiating new and different local customs.

We hope that volunteers are open to new adventures, committed to the objectives of the project, and are able to live in a simple environment, in constant and close contact with nature.

If you want to learn more about the places where our programs take place, click here:

Pucusana
Paracas National Reserve

If you want to join, click here:
Dolphin surveys (18 days)
Dolphin surveys (one month)

If you would like to learn more about our volunteer programs, please follow the following links: