Conservation and Research Projects

International Field Projects - Latin America

Our conservation and research projects focus on not only key species,but also threatened populations - geographically, or genetically distinct groups of animals, which if driven to extinction could not be replaced.

You can find out more about many of our projects on the links below or read our Introduction to International Field Projects to discover more about the background to our work.

South East Pacific and South West Atlantic

The rivers of South America - River dolphins: Dr Fernando Trujillo is the world’s foremost expert on South American river dolphins and talks about his crucial work.

Eastern Pacific - Sperm whales: Professor Hal Whitehead is the world’s foremost expert on sperm whales, and here shares his work in the Eastern Pacific.

Argentina, Patagonia - Southern right whales: Researchers from Fundación Cethus tell us more about the southern right whales that visit the coastline of Argentine Patagonia.

Argentina, southern coastal waters - Commerson's dolphins: WDCS Argentina researchers, Miguel Iniguez and Vanesa Tossenberger, are carrying out a long-term study of this southern-hemisphere species.

Brazil, Cananéia estuary - Tucuxi: Dr Marco Santos is spearheading a WDCS-funded project in Brazil to study these little-known dolphins.

Chile, Coquimbo, Fourth (IV) region - Risso's dolphins: Oliver Yates looks at possible nursery grounds for Risso’s dolphin in La Herradura, Region de Coquimbo.

Chile, Chilean Coast - Southern right whales: Despite decades of protection from whaling, southern right whales numbers in Chile remain critical. Barbara Galletti is finding out more about the animals and what action is needed to help them.

Mexico, Gulf of California - Vaquita: Gillnet fisheries in Mexico are driving the vaquita, the worlds most endangered cetacean, toward extinction. This project’s overall goal is to help reduce the risk of the vaquita’s extinction by obtaining images of living specimens, using these to foster conservation efforts, and learning more about the species’ population biology.

Panama, Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge - Whale watching: José Julio Casas is investigating sustainable whale watching in a marine protected area within Panamanian waters.

Venezuela - Whale watching in Venezuela - Whale watching: Jaime Bolaños and Auristela Villarroel have been conducting anassessment of the socio-economic benefits of Whale watching inVenezuela.

Venezuela - Cetaceans of north-east Venezuela - Various species: WDCS researcher Lenin Oviedo introduces us to the coastal odontocetes in the upwelling ecosystem of the north-east coast of Venezuela.

More Field Projects:

Atlantic Ocean | Pacific Ocean | Europe | Latin America | Indian Ocean