Wild Tobago

Scientists are finding out more about the creatures in the ocean even as they continue to be threatened by human-induced global warming, Dr Anjani Ganase looks at recent research on coral reefs, dolphins, whale sharks and jellyfish. How will they survive human traffic and warmer oceans?   Sharks thrive in the Marine Protected Area off Cuba, Jardines de la Reina. Credit: Philip Hamilton / Ocean Image Bank Protected coral reefs mean more fish Marine Protected Areas (MPA), according to scientific studies, account for about 10% of global fish stocks. Existing MPAs make up just 8.4% of the ocean and merely 3% are fully protected and equivalent to 1244 reefs around the world. A study led by the University of Sydney in Australia has estimated the amount of fish biomass in the world’s ocean that results from the presence of no-take, marine protected areas. The study reveals the importance of MPAs to boosting fish productivity especially when associated with cora...

Not only humans use tools. Anjani Ganase looks at some marine animals that utilize objects in their environment to hide, hunt or eat. Tools are defined as objects derived from the environment, attached or unattached, used to complete tasks with greater efficiency or success. We often consider the use of tools as exclusive human practices and the reason for our advancement in technology. However, tool use is common in the animal kingdom and was first recorded by Dr Jane Goodall who highlighted tool use for feeding by the great apes and chimpanzees. The scope of tool use was widened to include animals with limbs, hands, tails etc. capable of holding objects. The concept of “holding” an object was broadened again as researchers observed birds, dolphins and an array of animals using tools for feeding, protection, camouflaging, even for parenting and mating. The types of tools ranged from the very simple to highly sophisticated. Here are some marine animals that utilise...

Syam Nath leads the Trinidad and Tobago Cetacean Sighting Network (TTCSN) in the growing body of research on Cetaceans (whales, dolphins) in the Caribbean. With a background in bio-acoustics – he studied in Spain and France – he hopes to understand their language. He encourages sightings to be reported to info@ttcsn.org   Marine enthusiasts across the region have been astonished by recent sightings of orcas, also known as killer whales, in the warm Caribbean waters. These sightings challenge traditional beliefs about the habitat preferences of these iconic marine mammals, raising questions about their regional presence.   Eyewitness accounts from various Caribbean islands have documented the presence of orcas, a significant shift from their historically colder water habitats. This phenomenon has led to inquiries regarding their migratory patterns and environmental factors contributing to their presence.   Orcas sighted off St Vincent and the Gr...

Are dolphins as curious about us as we are about them? Dr Anjani Ganase talks with linguist/ bio-acoustician, Syam Nath of the TT Cetacean Sighting Network after a joyful encounter Rough-tooth dolphins off Rocky Point Tobago. Photo courtesy Anjani Ganase The morning started like any other. The boat was loaded by 8 AM at Gibson Jetty, we motored slowly through the Bon Accord Lagoon and exited the reef through its northern channel. As we exited the reef, we were met by a pod of curious dolphins. Turns out they were a group of 10 - 12 rough-tooth dolphins ( Steno bredanensis ) cruising the area. The boat driver did not deviate course, however, maintaining a steady speed. As we made our way to Mt Irvine, the dolphins approached the boat to bow ride. I can spend thousands of hours at sea and my response to dolphins is always the same: exhilarated joy. As we arrived at our dive destination at Mt Irvine, the boat slowed and the pod moved on, or so we thought. After an hour diving, we surfaced...

Dolphin sightings in waters around our islands are welcomed as happy auspicious signs. Highly intelligent and playful, they inhabit or traverse waters around the world and they need our protection. Dr Anjani Ganase provides some facts about these marine mammals.   Their diversity Did you know that killer whales, false killer whales and melon head whales are dolphins? All are members of the family Delphinidae. There are 42 species of dolphins found all over the world. They roam the open ocean and dolphin species are found in all the oceans and seas with a few exceptions. While most prefer warmer tropical waters, there a few species, such as the orcas, that travel to the polar regions. Orcas have even been encountered along the north coast of Trinidad.   Their sizes The biggest dolphin species are the orcas or killer whales. Killer whales get up to 6 – 8 m in length and up to six tons. Such immense size does not keep them from swimming at speeds up to 56km/h km; amon...

Far from being “dumb”, animals do communicate and learn from each other. Dr Anjani Ganase discusses how animals socialize, innovate and learn new behaviors across groups of the species. Intelligence is not a peculiarly human trait and we can learn from other species. In the animal kingdom where parents care for their offspring, they teach them the fundamental lessons for life and the skills to survive. Bird parents teach their young how to fly, orcas, tigers and other predators teach their young to hunt and even monkeys teach their kids how to floss their teeth (with human hair). However, there comes a point where our learning capacity grows beyond genetics and parental care, and this occurs through social learning from peers within a cultural setting. Similar to that of humans, the cultures within the animal kingdom depend on socially learned behavior to benefit groups of individuals with shared advantages within a species population. By observing, cons...