Mundo Azul

Dolphins Research

Studies and undercover-investigations of the existing black market on dolphin meat undertaken by Mundo Azul suggest that up to three thousand dolphins and porpoises are killed illegally for human consumption in Peru every year. Local poverty is such a strong burden along the Peruvian coast that sometimes artisan fishermen are driven to take part this and other illegal activities.

Jumping dolphin near Chaco port

Because Peru is rich in marine wildlife -- including more than 30 species of whales and dolphins -- it has great potential as whale watching destination. This kind of business has not yet been developed in Peru, and may provide alternative jobs to those local artisan fishermen suffering from the job loss and increased poverty related to over-fished resources.

Earning money through employment related to dolphin-watching tourism has a great potential to provide an alternative to illegal dolphin killing and may turn illegal hunters into convinced dolphin-conservationists.

But in order to be able to develop tourism projects -- as well as to monitor the negative impact of dolphin killing and the potential positive impacts of future tourism projects -- we need to have exact information about the size and range area of the dolphin populations present along the Peruvian coast.

The dolphin-photo-identification project of Mundo Azul is designed to systematically collect this information, and is therefore of major importance in creating the basis for real change in favor of biodiversity conservation.

We have developed several research programs – for more information about these research programs click here.

Videos dolphins 1

Videos dolphins 2

This is how you can help protect dolphins:

By adopting a dolphin you can support our dolphin research.
You can not only adopt a dolphin but also give him a name of your choice.
Actively take part in our ongoing dolphin research as a Conservation Volunteer!! You will form an integral part of the research team as you accompany our scientists out to sea to photo-identify dolphins and monitor other marine life like sea lions, marine otters, penguins and marine bird populations.
Become a dolphin observer.
Book a dolphin-watching tour with our associated travel agency Mundo Aventura. As an eco-tourist, you will not only give work to local people, but you will also be contributing directly to our dolphin research and conservation efforts.