MARINE BIG 5 CONSERVATION EXPO

Come and meet Wally and his ocean buddies at our enviro expo at Market Square from 24 to 28 September.

Photo credit: Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises

WHALE FESTIVAL TALK SCHEDULE 
 Talks will last 45mins - 1 hour; Children’s educational slot 1-2 hours

24^TH SEPTEMBER - FRIDAY

 Dyer Island Conservation Trust delivers unique conservation and research programmes in the fragile and critically important marine eco-system at the southern-most tip of Africa .  Here we strive to protect the largest surviving colonies of the endangered African Penguin; the globally important breeding and calving grounds of the Southern Right Whale; and, one of the world’s largest populations of the mysterious Great White Shark.

 The Whale Festival 2010 is the perfect opportunity for the Trust to connect and educate the public on the incredible marine diversity in our area. Together with our eco-tourism partners, Dyer Island Cruises (whale watching) and Marine Dynamics Tours (shark cage diving), we will be exhibiting and hosting interesting talks by our team of marine biologists and invited guests in the Marine Big 5 Conservation Expo marquee. Talks range from the whales and dolphins in the area, to great white shark behaviour and tagging, whale acoustics, seal research, the African Penguin, and more. There will be an educational children’s slot and a colouring-in competition. The Trust is joined by SASSI (South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) who have recently revised their seafood list. Learn what seafood is sustainably harvested and make a difference. You will also find recycling bins available at the marquee where you can recycle your plastics, paper, tins and glass.

To learn more visit www.dict.org.za; www.whalewatchsa.com; www.sharkwatchsa.com
To book for trips call: Whale & Eco Tours :   028 384 0406 / 082 801 8014
Shark Cage Diving:   028 384 1005 / 082 380 3405

Contact: 

Photo credit: Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises

Between June and December spectacular coastal scenery and mountain fynbos compete for attention with the stars of the show,  the southern right whales who leave their feeding grounds for our warmer, protected bays where they mate and  calve. 
It’s hard to imagine 60 tons of solid matter frolicking, for the pure fun of it. Breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping meters  away from a whale watching boat or the shore! Although scientist have various theories, but we think they do it... well, because they can. The cape whale  route hugs the coast through the most crowded parts of this giant whale nursery, where in season you can see up to 20 up close and personal.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS

Photo credit: Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises

An inhabitant of all the world’s oceans, the great white is feared by fishermen, divers and others who work or play in the sea.
But how much do we really know about this awesome creature? One thing we do know is that the great white shark is one of the top predators of the sea.

White shark cage diving tourism developed shortly after South Africa passed national
legislation in 1991 protecting the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) from all fishing
exploitation.. White sharks are lured to cage diving boats by a chum(scent) slick that emanates from the boat (consisting of fish based products). A fish-based
bait is tethered to the cage diving boat by a rope (circa 10-15m length), and is manoeuvred to entice sharks to swim close to a cage floating at the surface.
At present, white shark cage diving operations are permitted at three locations in South
Africa, including Seal Island, False Bay (3 operations), Dyer Island, Gansbaai (8 operations);and Seal Island, Mossel Bay (1 operation).

CAPE FUR SEALS

Cape Fur Seals are eared seals with dog like heads, a prominent snout, protruding whiskers and short tubular, hairless ears.
 Adult males weigh up to 350kg and females weigh average 75kg.
Male seals ( Bulls)  spend much of the year at sea but return for mating during the pupping season in November – December and do not even leave to feed during the mating season.
A harem of  10-50 cows per bull is established but the dominant bull or any bull will mate with her if she passes through his territory
Six days after giving birth the female is ready to mate again – and  this is what the males are waiting for!

DOLPHINS

Three Dolphin  species visit our coastal area, Bottlenos, Humpback and Common dolphins.
Dolphins are  mammals who nurse their calves with milk from mammary glands of the mothers.
Dolphins use a technique called echolocation to find food and navigate.This technique is performed by sending ultrasounds through the water which is bounced back to the dolphin and then is detected by the dolphin in an organ called mellon which decodes the message very much like a sonar.
The most popular dolphin is the Bottlenose Dolphin as it is the one we have seen in tv series, movies, and aquatic shows
Dolphins are warm-blooded. Their internal temperature is around 36 degrees. To keep this temperature they are surrounded by a thick layer of “fat” called blubber , just below the skin. This fat allow dolphins to resist cold temperature and regulate their body temeperature.
Dolphins make a unique whistle that may help individual dolphins to recognize each other or to perform any  kind of communication still unknown.
Dolphins even make noises so loud that can stunt a fish.

AFRICAN PENGUINS

Photo credit: Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises

African Penguins are endemic to Southern African waters.
The black stripe and black spots on the chest  are unique for every penguin, like human fingerprints.  Penguins are flightless and very ungainly on land but graceful and strong swimmers, using their paddle-like wings and webbed feet. They are known to dive to depths of 120m, incredible for a little bird as  they are one of the smallest penguin species.
We are fortunate to have an onshore colony at Stony Point , Bettiesbay and an offshore colony at Dyer Island.