Senegal’s children learn biodiversity protection through whale songs

In Senegal, a unique initiative is using whale recordings to educate children about environmental protection and marine biodiversity. The Germes d’Écocitoyens à travers les sciences et les traditions dans les univers d’apprentissage (Gestu) association spearheads this project. Recently, Gestu organized three workshops in Dakar primary schools, featuring Professor Olivier Adam, a renowned cetacean expert. I visited Alieu Samb Primary School in Dakar’s Ngor district to witness one of these captivating introductions to the fascinating world of whale communication.

From my vantage point in Dakar, I observed a class of about thirty CM2 students at Alieu Samb Primary School. They sat spellbound, listening intently to recordings of humpback whale songs captured off the coast of Ouakam, Dakar, in 2018 and 2022.

Professor Olivier Adam, a distinguished expert from the Sorbonne, explained to the children, “These songs, these sounds you’ve heard, belong to humpback whales. These magnificent creatures journey to Dakar to give birth. Their calves are truly Dakarois.”

As a specialist in cetacean vocalizations, Professor Adam emphasized the critical importance of spreading the understanding that whales possess a complex language. “I was genuinely astonished when I first recorded whales and realized they emitted intentional, structured sounds that form a language,” he shared, having traveled from Paris specifically to engage with these young learners. “Every time I meet students, I feel it’s essential they grasp this truth. We must comprehend our oceans, and that comprehension begins with knowing the diverse living species within them.”

The curious students eagerly posed a flurry of questions: “How many stomachs does a whale have? How many types of whales exist? How do whales give birth? What do they eat?”

Twelve-year-old Fanta expressed her profound impression, stating that “their song and their way of speaking” resonated with her the most.

Thierry, the CM2 teacher at Alieu Samb School in Ngor, Dakar, underscored the vital role of this education about the living world. He recounted his own learning: “Without this knowledge, you wouldn’t know, for example, what I just discovered — that a whale can only have one calf per birth. This means it’s a species that, if not protected, could vanish.”

Babacar Sy, a seasoned underwater hunter with over 30 years of experience, responsible for the original whale recordings in Dakar and a co-facilitator of the workshop, highlighted the urgent need to combat ignorance. He noted his daily catches of fish are diminishing. “I was fortunate to experience nature as it once was and witness its radical transformation. Last year, I caught only five thiofs throughout the entire year,” the concerned fisherman lamented. “If we continue this trajectory, one day we’ll speak of thiof to our children, and they’ll ask what it is, because it no longer exists. We are heading into a deep crisis. For me, it’s time for people to awaken!”

Professor Adam’s whale sound sessions were also hosted by two other schools in Dakar. Alongside these immersive experiences, the Gestu association is organizing waste collection awareness days, aiming to foster a profound shift in public attitudes and promote a culture of environmental stewardship across society in Africa.