40 years in the Field: First Trip of 2024
We’ve concluded our first two dolphin trips in the Bahamas of the 2024 field season. Here is a recap of Trip 1 by our research director and founder, Denise Herzing, Ph.D., and research assistant Hayley Knapp. Summary of Trip 1 by Denise Herzing Although May is not always a good
Sponsor Spotlight: Ocean Tec Usa
We are so lucky to have the support from a local company like Ocean Tec USA and we want to take a moment to highlight them. Recently, WDP took a moment to sit down with Ocean Tec’s Lily O’Leary to learn more. Read on! 1. In your words, tell us
Exploring Dolphin Mythology Across Cultures
With their complex communication and obvious intelligence, dolphins have captivated the mind of Wild Dolphin Project scientists for 40 years. But, we aren’t alone — it’s been going on for centuries. In both modern and ancient times, stories depict dolphins as playful creatures with a strong bond to humans, often
Discovering Dolphin Anatomy: Dolphins’ Unique Adapations
It’s no secret that at the Wild Dolphin Project, we find dolphins endlessly fascinating. After all, we have been studying them for 40 years! What makes the so interesting? Well, they have unique anatomy designed for a life beneath the waves, from their sleek bodies to sensory superpowers. Read on
Dolphin Research Over 40 years
The Wild Dolphin Project, founded by Denise Herzing, Ph.D., studies the behavior and communication of two species of dolphins in the Bahamas. Since 1985, we have made discoveries about their social relationships, feeding behavior, communication, movement patterns, genetics, life history and more. To do our work, we spend months in
Life on the Sandbank
When it comes to living at sea for dolphin research, there’s so much more than just being in the water with dolphins. We live at sea and experience everything that comes with that — from the intense sun and heat, severe weather events, beautiful sunsets, wildlife encounters and more. In
Fun in the Sun at Turtle Fest 2024
Saturday was a beautiful day at Loggerhead Marinelife Center for the 19th annual Turtle Fest. Thousands attended the free family-friendly event. Turtle Fest focuses on promoting ocean conservation through educational interactive exhibits, music, art, shopping and games. Attendees strolled among booths filled with local artists and conservation groups. Guests were
Dolphin Research: Studying Family Trees
At the Wild Dolphin Project, we track individual animals throughout their entire lives and their family trees — who is related to who. Knowing how animals are animals are related allows us to understand more about their social structure, behavior, communication and more. On addition to our formal database, on
Dolphin Smarts. How Intelligent Are Dolphins?
Are dolphins smart? It’s a question we hear often. But what does it mean to be intelligent, and how can we measure sure it? Understanding animal cognition — the mental abilities of non-human animals – is a broad and complicated field. Generally, intelligence can be defined ability to learn and
Amazing Whale and Dolphin Record Breakers
What’s the largest dolphin in the world? How about the smallest? What whale can hold it’s breath the longest. Read on to find out! Whales, dolphins and porpoises make up a specific group of marine mammals called Cetaceans, and there are around 90 species. The word cetacean comes from the Latin