Project Dauphins - The Scientific Research projects
Dolphins for research, protection and education
The Scientific Research projects
Over the last few months, Planète Sauvage has succeeded in bringing together the skills of experts from the field of science: the ethnology department from Rennes University, affiliated to the CNRS (French national centre for scientific research) and the Nantes Veterinary School.
Planète Sauvage is carrying out research into the dolphin’s whistling communication and the social factors that influence it. Unlike most mammals, dolphins are able to imitate sounds and integrate them into their own repertoire. This ability will be studied with two different focuses:
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The integration of animals from different pods
Putting together a pod of dolphins from individuals from different origins provides the opportunity to observe their mechanisms for sharing new sounds and the development of the sound repertoire. The sounds of each individual will be recorded before, during and after the pod is established. - Imitation
Two methods will be used to examine the dolphins’ capacity for imitation, a passive one and an active one.
The results of this scientific research will be disseminated with the aim of moving research forward (Publications, conferences at international congresses, the Marine City Laboratory).
