Hello Everyone!
My name is
Danielle and I am one of the new interns here at HKDCS! My internship here in
Hong Kong will help give me the credit I need to complete my Master’s degree in
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) back at home in Montreal, Canada. I
decided to apply for this internship as it perfectly integrates my passion for
marine mammals with my academic interest in the EIA process. Here in HK there
are so many on-going coastal development projects that it is amazing the
dolphins and porpoises can survive in this environment. With all this development, it is imperative that the EIA system is applied properly in order to protect their
habitat and conserve their populations.
I’ve been
here for approximately one month so far and I am amazed with how much I’ve
learned in that short amount of time! I’ve learned how line-transect surveys
are done in relation to cetacean research, how theodolite technology can be
applied to track dolphins and their behavior, and finally I’ve learned about the
different sorts of human disturbances that are currently threatening these
cetaceans. Every day I learn something different, so it keeps the work very
stimulating and very exciting!
The first
time I spotted a dolphin was actually on my very first boat outing! I was amazed
by their beauty and also by their size! The first time I saw a mother-calf pair
was also quite special – it’s heart-warming how the calf stays so close to his
mother! Finally, the elusive finless porpoise is always so exciting to spot. I
haven’t yet had a very good sighting of one (just a quick glimpse) so I’m very
excited to go back out on a porpoise survey!
Although,
there is so much beauty here with these amazing creatures there are also many
human disturbances that are affecting them as well. The day I saw a dead calf
was a very sad day indeed! It was also very scary when I saw a dolphin inside a
fishing net! Luckily he managed to find a way out and escaped!
As
beautiful as these creatures are they definitely need our help in face of all
the threats they deal with. Interning here at the HKDCS has taught me so much
and has given me a huge appreciation for conservation scientists. The staff
here who work at HKDCS are wonderful people who really care a lot about
cetaceans! I feel immensely lucky to not only be working with the dolphins and
porpoises this summer, but also the great staff here at HKDCS as well!
As I learn
more and more this summer I’ll be sure to write again and update you all on the
amazing experiences!
That’s it for now,
Danielle
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