Dear colleagues, Between 2006 and 2012 I have been researching a population of bottlenose dolphins in North Patagonia, Argentina. After years of data gathering and analysis, I am currently finishing up my PhD at the University of Liège, Belgium, and publishing the final results of these years of investigation. The most important outcome of this research is that there is an increasing concern on the conservation status of these dolphins in Argentina. It is therefore that I have the aim to share results of my research as much as possible, especially with the local communities in Argentina, to increase the awareness around this population and highlight its vulnerability.
Hence with the help of two professionals of Argentina, I have written a children’s book with the title *“Las Toninas de la Bahia, Descubriendo a los Delfines de Patagonia Norte”*. Free translation of this title is *“The bottlenose dolphins of the Bay, Discovering the Dolphins of North Patagonia”*. In this book we offer general information on cetaceans, on the various dolphin species of North Patagonia and especially on the studied population of bottlenose dolphins. Several pages are dedicated to the most important research results, the possible threats this population faces locally and suggestions on why and how to improve their conservation in this region. For the distribution of this book we are organizing an educational project in Patagonia during which we will offer 3000 printed copies to the local schools. Furthermore, I created a facebook group where a pdf version of the book is free to download, and through which I aim to further increase the interest of the people to learn about bottlenose dolphins and their conservation issues, to share their experiences and to create a platform where they are free to ask questions to each other and professionals. Up to now the book is only available in Spanish, but the facebook group will function both in Spanish and English as we are convinced that the use of social networking is essential in the increasing awareness of environmental issues (https://www.facebook.com/groups/157084411154762). For questions or further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind regards, Els Els Vermeulen, MSc Doctorandus Laboratory of Oceanology - MARE Research Centre University of Liege, Belgium www2.ulg.ac.be/oceanbio
_______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
