CONFERENCES
1 FEBRUARY 2020: WORLD ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE DAY, CITÉ DES SCIENCES ET DE L'INDUSTRIE, PARIS AT 6PM
THE SONGS OF THE WHALES, LECTURE AND CONCERT BY PIERRE LAVAGNE DE CASTELLAN
Research Director of the Shelltone Whale Project, Pierre Lavagne de Castellan spoke about whale song: why do whales sing, what are the hypotheses, is it possible for humans to communicate with whales, and what is the current state of research? In the second half, he played the Shelltone, the instrument he developed with the Ecole Centrale de Nantes and Stanford University in California, to communicate with humpback whales. He plays to the accompaniment of whale songs that he himself recorded during his research into inter-species communication. This unique creation will reproduce the exchange that exists today between humans and cetaceans through music.
Co-organised with the support of the Cité des Sciences et de l'industrie.
LECTURES ON BOARD THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SHIP OCEAN STAR
Regularly, the university ship Ocean Star anchors in Deshaies, the Seamester organization schedules, at each passage, a conference on the Shelltone Whale Project research presented to American marine biology students by Pierre Lavagne de Castellan.
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SHELLTONE WHALE PROJECT ASSOCIATION AND THE AGENCE DES AIRES MARINES PROTÉGÉES FOR THE PROVISION OF GEOREFERENCED DATA
In recent years, the Agoa sanctuary has collected a wealth of data on cetaceans through at-sea campaigns, acoustic beacons and partnerships with associations and private groups. This information, which is stored and analysed at the Marine Protected Areas Centre, provides a better understanding of the feeding, resting and socialisation areas of marine mammals, particularly on the leeward coast of Guadeloupe, where the Shelltone Whale Project operates.
The mission of the Agoa sanctuary, located in the French West Indies, is to protect marine mammals and their habitats from the impact of human activities. It aims to limit negative interactions, reduce pollution, raise public awareness and promote harmonious cohabitation between humans and animals. To reinforce these efforts, the Agency is calling on the Shelltone Whale Project to make use of its data and expertise as part of a master's course starting in January.
PUBLICATION
Animals are much more intelligent than we ever thought... Regularly, discoveries are made that enlighten us about their sensitivity, their emotional capacity, their generosity, their solidarity and, dare we say it, their wisdom.
Seven brilliant spirits, with exceptional journeys, take us to this fascinating universe of animal intelligence. Thanks to them, you will discover the incredible powers of whale songs that boost the protein content of the plankton, you will see, with the bonobos, that laughter is not the only thing that makes man laugh. You will understand that you can manage a team by taking inspiration from schools of fish. You'll see that ants invented agriculture long before man...
These examples, and many others, show us that the supremacy of man over animals is pure fiction and that, better still, animals are perhaps the lifeline of humanity through their ability to survive and adapt.
Let's reinvent our relationship with the animal, our survival depends on it!
THEY TALKED ABOUT US
HEATHER HARDING'S TESTIMONY
MARINE BIOLOGIST, MAUI, HAWAII
"Hello Pierre,
Your legacy still lives on here in Maui. At the last Whaledreamer meeting I had the Shelltone you gave me and I told your story. People who hadn't heard about it were fascinated and inspired.
I don't know if you realize how inspiring this is for people.
The act of creating something, putting one's heart, soul and passion into it without expecting anything in return is in itself a powerful act.
The whales seem to encourage this kind of attitude on our part.
We may not know why we do what we do, but we may believe there is a reason. It is so important that we do these kinds of things more and more, to help balance and heal this world that is sick of the actions of people driven by greed and selfishness, in that your example has value.
I like the Shelltone you gave me. Thank you very much, I cherish it and with it I tell your story to all the people I meet on my whale watching trips, to the students in my classes and at Whaledreamers meetings.
I hope you know how much your project means to so many people.
Heather Harding. Marine biologist. Maui - Hawaii - USA
