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Keeping up with the local Dolphins of Ponta is not an easy task! With changing dorsal fins, the Dolphin Team have to keep a close eye on individuals within a catalogue of some 300 dolphins! Sheyshy first made it onto the Dolphins of Ponta ID catalogue in 2009 as a juvenile with Mom Sabby. They are both classified as resident dolphins in that they are sighted throughout the year in our Reserve. In the beginning of October we saw a fin who at first glance we thought was Lady, however it was only after closer inspection on land did we establish that it was in-actual fact Sheshy with an interesting new notch that resembles that of Ladies! Over the years we have had the opportunity to monitor Sheshy and have watched her grow and develop into a fine young lady! She is around 13 years old now and we are keeping close eyes on her as she expects her firstborn. The series of images tell a little bit of her story, one of which is an encounter with a shark that left quite a wicked mark! In January this year she was filmed by Angie having a vomit, and in April with a swelling belly!

Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique - Dolphin Encountours Research Center attended to a stranded humpback whale on the beach in Ponta do Ouro. On-route a call of assistance was put out to operators and locals if in the event the whale could be re-floated after it was reported still alive by Marcus Joubert at sunrise. On arrival, a growing number of people could be seen gathering around the whale that was lying in the waves. An assessment was undertaken together telephonically with Dr Jennifer Olbers from the KZN Marine Stranding Network and it was concluded that the whale was in poor health, given it’s body condition, the large presence of whale lice, shallow, irregular breathing and un-responsiveness. With this in mind the decision was taken not to attempt a re-float as this was cause stress and let the whale pass on in peace. A difficult and painful call to make, for all involved. Fillimone Javane, a PPMR Reserve Guard together with his team assisted in translating the situation to the growing crowds while volunteers, lead by citizen scientist Angie went about collecting measurements and taking blubber and skin samples for analysis. A pectoral was removed for later museum display. Finding ourselves ill equipped to deal with this type of stranding on a popular beach and a growing amount of pressure and tension from the local populace the decision was made to let the harvest begin after the data was collected. It was made known that we did not know why the whale had died and consumption of meat was at ones own risk. By 4pm the shoreline was littered with blubber and all that remained was a carcass washing around in the incoming tide. An increase of sharks activity was expected in the area and this was confirmed at sunset when a shark/s was filmed in the shore break. The beaches and bays in the area will be monitored in the coming days and bathers should be aware of the current risks of swimming while the remnants of the whale are still around. A shout out of thanks to all the volunteers that assisted with this mammoth task. During the coming weeks a stranding response team will be set up to better deal with these events in future. DERC will be calling on sponsorship in order to have on hand the necessary safety gear and equipment. This is the 26th stranding that has been recorded in the Reserve since the organisation stated operating in the area.

Being able to fulfil your childhood dream is always an amazing feeling that can be sometimes hard to describe. For me, a passion for the ocean and especially Cetaceans has always been a huge part of my life but hasn’t always been easy, as wanting to be a marine biologist but not being strong at science doesn’t go very well together. Luckily for me, I was able to graduate in Marine & Natural History Photography giving me the chance pursue an ocean-related career. After also completing a Responsible Whale Watching Guide Course with the World Cetacean Alliance, I was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to come out here to Mozambique to volunteer with Dolphin Encountours Research Center, Angie and the local Dolphins of Ponta. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be spending nearly everyday for 2 months in the water with Bottlenose Dolphins, observing and learning their different behaviours first hand, while also being able to finally put my degree to use and build up a portfolio that so far, I am very proud of. Not only have I been spoilt with dolphins, but also Humpback Whales, that are currently migrating through and often giving us shows of their agility and curiosity. I can’t even begin to explain the feeling of seeing a 40 ton whale breach so gracefully out of the water. Even if I saw this once my life would be complete and I’ve been lucky enough to witness this many times. The same goes for the dolphins. When you’re patiently waiting in the blue, already hearing their squeaks and whistles, not knowing what direction they will come from and suddenly seeing a small or huge pod emerge out of no where, peacefully and elegantly gliding past you, looking you in the eye and swimming around you is just incredible. I often look back at my footage and wonder ‘did this actually happen?’. I’ve learnt so much from seeing different behaviours first hand, from nice behaviours such as circling swimming, playful calves and bubble trains to aggressive behaviours such as jaw clapping and tail slapping, as well as some sexual behaviours. It never ceases to amaze me how intelligent these creatures are; when they look you directly in the eye you can almost see their brains trying to work out what you are, but many times they seem to enjoy swimming with as just as much as we enjoy swimming with them. However, the one negative that I have witnessed would have to be that when it was the holidays and there were many more people around, the Dolphins disappeared. There were some days where we would just have one or two, or there were other days, sometimes consecutive days where we wouldn’t find any. The ocean was very busy in this time period, lots of boats and lots of tourists in the sea creating noise pollution, which for animals that are very sensitive to noise, I can see why they retreated to quieter areas. Although saying this, once the area had quietened down, they returned in no time. As well as dolphin swims, I’ve been able to get other kinds of experiences and work such as observing from land, helping out with data work and working on skeletons, all of which I find fascinating. Although for me, my favourite part has been being able to be videographer/photographer and being given the chance to put the Dolphin diaries videos together, which I am so grateful for. Sabrina and Cassie with the completed seal.... I can’t thank Angie and the rest of the crew enough for giving me the opportunity to live my dream, even just for a few months, but I hopefully from all the experience I have gained here so far, I will be able to continue this wherever it may be. Dolphin Encountours Research Center and the dolfriends will always have a special place in my heart.

Boom! We topped our record Folks! Thank you to all the volunteers today! Two tonnes (2 128,50kg) of rubbish was removed off our beaches in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve. After a quick briefing the convoy of 11 vehicles and 50 people left from the Ponta do Ouro Launch Site at 08:46 under the supervision of Vincent, the reserves Manager who accompanied us on the beach. We arrived at Ponta Dobela at 09:40. Surprisingly the previous ‘catchment’ bay was relatively clean par from small pieces of plastics. We later discovered that most of the big stuff was sitting at Millibangala, were the reserves vehicle collected lots of discarded fishing gear including nets and ropes. An effective leap frogging system was followed when we started the trip back to Ponta. It was here that most of the rubbish was collected. We made it back to Ponta just before 13:00. After offloading all the rubbish it was then weighed and bags counted - 136 of them! A heartfelt thanks is extended to each and every person who took time out of their Saturday to assist us with this the mammoth task of trying to keep the Reserves beaches Clean as well as to Plastics SA for bags and Ponta Kukula for the removal of rubbish to dump. Date: 300618 Time: 08:46 to 12:45 Kilograms collected: 2 128,50 Number of bags filled: 136 Number of participants: 50 Number of Vehicles: 11

As I sit on the bus travelling through the lush fields of KZN returning from the 5-day retreat swimming with the wild dolphins of Mozambique, and with plenty of time to reflect on the retreat, I am more than aware of my deep gratitude regarding life and all it has to offer while writing this newsletter. I am again writing about a subject that is not only close to my heart but also one which inspires me to keep on working with animals and raising awareness regarding animals and nature in general. We met at King Shaka airport in Durban, early on Friday and headed off on our trip. As always we all have one common interest….dolphins. Somehow the activity seems to attract various interesting persons and personalities. The common thread, a love of animals/nature/the ocean and a need for me time -A time of rest, reflection and relaxation. We got all three and so much more. Our accommodation at O Lar Do Ouro was as per usual an absolute pleasure – accommodation simple, clean and welcoming. One of the return retreaties said that she felt as if she was coming home. I can’t find words to better describe arrival and staying at the lodge other than “home from home” -the owners and staff always welcoming, warm and hospitable. No request being too much or carried out with anything but a smile and the staff are exactly the same, happy and willing to accommodate all our requests. The 3-course breakfasts and dinners were nothing short of magnificent and no dietary needs unmet. All the food served was fresh and tasty – real home cooked food served with pride and clearly cooked with love. Then to the focal point of the retreat….swimming with Dolphins. As per usual Dolphin Encountours remains my company of choice. Angie Gullan the dolphin lady of Ponta, ever ready to guide, teach and support her clients. We were taken through our snorkel practice with dive master Mat - his sense of humour always leaving us with a laugh. Due to poor weather conditions we were unable to launch on day one but this allowed time for other activities like yoga and meditation. Most people were unfamiliar with Kundalini Yoga so the sets chosen by me were simple but each in its own way good exercise together with healing on all levels - Mind, Body and Soul all being stimulated by practising this ancient form of yoga. Each day we practised some yoga and meditation. On day two when the weather had cleared, we were blessed to have amazing conscious interaction with the dolphins. A large pod of dolphins choosing to interact with us for what seemed like hours. In fact, I find that time hardly exists when in the ocean with our finned friends. The experience left my clients and me with a combination of emotions ranging from sheer bliss to absolute humility - the latter always being my own emotion. These magnificent beings not only allowing us to be in their own space but also choosing to swim back, again and again, to share their special magical energy and healing with us earthlings. Whilst on the boat we were entertained by Flying fish (not in a bottle) shooting through the air. Such a delight to the eye and when one of the little fish landed in the boat it was met with many a ladies squeal. I remain eternally grateful for the dolphins for their trust and willingness to engage with us. One of the other encounters came with a magic of its own. Our skilled skipper Mitchell dropped us off in front of a pod of dolphins. We lay on the surface of the ocean and looked down into the water as 40 plus dolphins silently moved through the ocean beneath us. What an amazing sight and one never to be forgotten. Over and above snorkelling and swimming with the dolphins, some us of experienced a lesson of scuba in a swimming pool with a local company called Gozo Azul - Thank you Tobi for your patience while practising in the pool and assistance while in the vast ocean. For the two of us who decided to continue the scuba adventure in the ocean, we were blessed to see the most magnificent marine life - shoals of fish in colours that only the imagination can comprehend, little sea creatures living at the bottom of our oceans, getting on with life in their own way. A magic that few humans get to experience. Back on terra firma we enjoyed rides to the village centre and beach on quad bikes provided by the lodge. Since the lodge is a little way from the beach, hopping onto a quad bike makes life easier and so much fun. In our spare time we shopped at the local stalls and enjoyed massages on the beach and at the lodge – ending our day with drives to enjoy magnificent view point’s whilst enjoying a sunset drink, followed by a dinner delight. There was also plenty of time to relax and enjoy much-needed rest. As we boarded the plane to head back home I felt deep gratitude for all that we experienced. I wish to extend my thanks to all my guests. Thank you for being such fun and for embracing the adventure and experience with openness and trust. I will be offering my next not to be missed retreat to Ponta from the 10th to the 15th of August (almost fully booked) and again in October from the 12th to the 17th. Book with Debbie: info@zeropointhealing.co.za

Can you see the fishing line on this bottlenose dolphin in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve. Be aware and take care, please do not discard your fishing tackle at sea or leave it on the beach!

Be-Aware! Dolfriends in the Bay. When traversing the coastal shallows of the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve please keep a slow and steady speed and a watchful eye out for our local #dolphinsofponta.

Some 250 Bottlenose dolphins have been catalogued in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve as well as a handful of Humpback Dolphins. Dolphins, like humans have a fingerprint and although sometimes we have to wait for that fingerprint to form in dolphins, each animal, as time goes by develops a unique and individualised fin. Some dolphins however bear other useful identification markings that can be used too, like Gilly for example. For a couple of years she was only identifiable through a series of rake marks. As the years passed she developed a slight notch at the bottom of her fin and then another in the middle and then one day - her fin changed completely! The ever changing dorsal fins; caused from wear and tear, predation, fishing line and boat interactions keep us on our toes as we try to keep track of who is who in the Reserve. This poster was prepared for the WCA conference in Durban 2017 and is on display at our office in Ponta do Ouro.

“They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all” Since I can remember I have always had a passion for Dolphins. My dream was one day working closely with these incredible humans of the ocean. Interacting, understanding, listening and observing them in their natural habitat. However, making this dream a reality seemed an impossibility. Working in the corporate world would require time off from a busy schedule. In 2017 my life took a drastic turn, I lost my high-powered job, a job that consumed every part of my soul. Whilst giving everything to my career my personal life took a turn for the worst and before I knew it I lost everything I knew. Understanding why and how this happened made me do some soul searching, the dream I once had could become a possibility. That’s when the research started to pursue my dream. I discovered Dolphin Encountours in Ponta do Ouro Mozambique through Volunteer world. The process to apply to be a Volunteer was quick and easy and my journey started on the 1st Feb 2018. Dolphin Encounters Vision and Mantra spoke to every cell in my body, Mantra: “For the love of dolphins” and their Vision: is to ensure Dolphins living within Lubumbo Transfrontier Conservation Area are protected and that ethical and educational marine mammal tourism policies are adopted along the African coastline especially in regard to in-water encounters with wild dolphin. Angie Gullan who runs the project in Mozambique started this project 20 years ago in a small-town Ponta do Oura, she did what most people do arrive in Mozambique to explore the deep blue ocean by diving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Angie’s first encounter happened in 1994 with Ponta’s local Dolphins. She was intrigued as much as they were and that’s where her love for Dolphins began. She packed up her life in Jozi and moved to Ponta. Through the years Angie has built an incredible relationship with the local dolphins, she has experienced interactions with Dolphins not many people have had the honour experiencing. She swims in their slip streams, being introduced to a mom’s new born calf, and during the years they continue to introduce their new offspring to her. They love her as much as she loves them. Getting into the water with Angie and seeing the Dolphins interact with her is an experience of a lifetime. They call her the Dolphin Whisperer, experiencing this myself whilst working with Angie have on many occasions left me speechless for hours. I have had the most mind-blowing experiences with the dolphins, and each time I get into the water I get even closer to understanding why I took this leap and followed my dreams. Along with their various partners the Dolphin Encounter research Center is Africa’s leading wild dolphin program that was born in December 1994. They campaign for the rights of Dolphins and have to date identified and catalogued some 250 Dolphins in the reserve. Whilst on this journey, I have been privileged on so many occasions to swim alongside these incredible humans of the seas, they have observed me as much as I’ve observed them, and I have been gifted with circle swims & belly up swims, introductions and playful behaviour. An experience of a life time that I could repeat over and over again. With each interaction I feel more connected, more inspired and more grateful that I have been privileged enough to encounter these special dolphin interactions, when you lock eyes with one of these incredible mammals, the fear and the anxiety disappears and just for a moment it feels like time stands still. Nothing matters and every cell in my body feels the warmth, the gratitude and the love for the dolphins. “IT IS OF INTEREST TO NOTE THAT WHILE SOME DOLPHINS ARE REPORTED TTO HAVE LEARNED ENGLISH- UP TO FIFTY WORDS USED IN CORRECT CONTEXT- NO MAN BEING HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE LEARNED DOLPHINISE”

In February 2017, the Green Bubbles team in collaboration with the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR) launched a project for Ocean literacy and marine science for the local school children. The presented Module was successful and this year saw Green Bubbles visit once again. Our team, together with representatives from the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, marine operators and locals recently had the privilege of attending a five-day workshop hosted by Green Bubbles. The purpose was to train us, as local facilitators, in a basic Ocean Literacy and Marine Science Module which would enable us to teach the same information to the local children of Ponta Do Ouro. Through an ethos of conservation we hope to promote mindfulness in young children, so that they can learn to protect the beach and sea animals of the Reserve. The workshop started with an open discussion about Ponta Do Ouro, our beaches and the meaning of conservation and eco-tourism. The main theme that emerged was the importance of safe and sustainable tourism for the local community and the need to preserve the natural resources that drive tourism in the area. What better place to start than educating the local children about the need to protect our seas and sea life? Through the theoretical component we learnt more about the ocean, ocean life, and the importance of ecotourism in promoting education, conservation and meeting the needs of the local community. These principles were then put into action through a fun and engaging practical component of the workshop. Under the guidance of the Green Bubbles team we, as facilitators, got to share the information we learnt with a group of local primary school children. Enabling the children to be “mini-scientists”, as we took them to the beach. Here they actively participated in collecting data from the “Sandy Beach” and “Rocky Shores” of Ponta Do Ouro. With our assistance they counted and recorded animal life, vegetation and pollution. Now that we have shared in this fun and educational experience, it is up to us as local facilitators to continue the programme with the local children. Green Bubbles has graciously paved the way, leaving us all the materials and resources to conduct further community outreach programmes with the local children. This means we now have to collaborate with local schools to continue the programme; which involves one morning of theory and laboratory work at the Ponta Do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve Office and then another morning of practical data collection on the beach.

An update from Biofund regarding their concerns of the potential environmental disaster the Techobanine Port Development would bring. A manifesto was submitted to the highest decision bodies in Mozambique. Minifesto Portugese Minifesto English It is refreshing to know that this issue is been tackled at the highest level. As always we should be extra vigilant of destructive activities and developments that may damage our environment. For the Love of Dolphins Angie Gullan