July 2012 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Harbour porpoise model, Estonia
by Val Rajasaar 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

Dear colleagues! > > The first porpoise model in Estonia is ready. As I asked for > information on Harbour porpoise photos and forms earlier in this list, > I send hereby now a link to photos and my comment on this work > (addressed to Dr. Magnus Wahlberg in Denmark) as thanks for all who > answered for my request. Please feel free to comment very honestly, do > not be modest. As cleared below it is just the start for whale > modelling at our studio. Forms from original dead specimens can be > used only for casting details (eyes, mouth, nostril, anal and genital > region). Overall forms are useless, unless they have been taken in the > water, in weightless situation, but this is impossible: the only way > of modelling the overall body of marine mammals is by hand, first > having a good overview of the species' movements and alive nature of > them in their habitat. > > Best regards: > Val Rajasaar > NPO Studio Viridis Nature Education > Estonia > Photos: http://bit.ly/P1o1UK > http://www.facebook.com/StudioViridis > > > > -------- Algne kiri -------- > Teema: Re: SV: Mammoths in Estonia > Kuupäev: Sun, 01 Jul 2012 17:05:35 +0300 > Saatja: Val Rajasaar <val.rajasaar(a)studioviridis.ee> > Saaja: Magnus Wahlberg <magnus(a)fjord-baelt.dk> > > > > Hi! Our porpoise is now as it looks on photos attached. Colouring is a > bit too rough as we ran out of timetable. We will add some colour details > later. Please feel free to comment honestly, and also Your associates. > It turned out that it is extremely difficult to finish the body surface > as glide as it is. I worked it out on UA-foam body with reconstruction > spackel and car-finishing polyester spackel. It is very time-consuming to > get the surface nice and smooth. When I took photos then accidentally > other > exhibition builders just then had to turn off the dioramas lighting. > So I had to > use flash-light of camera. This one picks quite well up all the mistakes > and also enlights colouring mistakes. In the original lighting of this > diorama it looks actually much better (the first photo). > I have to add some dark paint into its mouthline (flash showed me that it > is needed) and we have to make the next one's colouring more natural by > going deeper in the details which will guarantee the exact look (needs > more time that we had now). As it is said: the first house You build is > for learning, the second for neighbour and the third for yourself. I made > also forms of this porpoise body, so I can start the possible next one > not > from the total zero, already. > > Opening of the exhibition is on July, 10 at 15.00. You are welcome. > > Best regards! Val > > > 18.06.2012 8:55, Magnus Wahlberg kirjutas: >> Hi Val >> looks great! >> Magnus >> >> >> ________________________________________ >> Fra: Val Rajasaar [val.rajasaar(a)studioviridis.ee] >> Sendt: 17. juni 2012 13:12 >> Til: Magnus Wahlberg >> Emne: Mammoths in Estonia >> >> Just placed our mammoths into the exhibition. Sry, for it is in >> Estonian >> language. >> Porpoise is coming next week. >> Best regards. >> Val& Co. >> >> https://www.facebook.com/StudioViridis > >

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Photos of humpback whale sighting on June 28th, 2012 in the Mediterranean Sea
by Sylvia Frey 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

Dear Colleagues As reported three days ago OceanCare experienced an extraordinary sighting of a humpback whale south of Nice, France. Due to the great interest in this sighting I posted some of the most interesting photos in terms of identification of the animal online. Unfortunately, we don't have any good picture from the fluke of the animal as it showed us its fluke only once from rather far away. However, the photos of the fin allow to identify the animal as it has rather unique marks in particular on the right side (and in front) of the fin. To access the photos please follow the link below: https://picasaweb.google.com/syfrey/Humpback_whale_28062012_CoteDAzur?authu… If you recognise the animal please let me know and if you use any of the photos please credit OceanCare. Thank you. Best regards, Sylvia OceanCare Sylvia Frey, PhD sfrey(a)oceancare.org <mailto:sfrey@oceancare.org> www.oceancare.org <http://www.oceancare.org/>

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Job opportunity: Marine Strandings Administrator, Inverness, Scotland
by Andrew Brownlow 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

*JOB OPPORTUNITY: Marine Strandings Administrator* * * *Project overview* * * For the past two decades, SAC has run a monitoring scheme for collating and investigating marine animal strandings. The work has been part of a UK-wide surveillance scheme monitoring cetacean mortalities, with additional studies unique to Scotland’s populations of cetaceans, seals, basking sharks and marine turtles. Through the pathological and epidemiological investigation of stranded animals, an extensive and unique dataset has been collected to inform about the health of, and threats to, many of Scotland’s marine species. A unique opportunity to join this team has arisen as we are now recruiting for the job *of Marine Strandings Administrator* for this project, based in Inverness, Scotland. * * *Summary of key tasks: * • Manage incoming reports of marine strandings and co-ordinate the identification, sampling, and recovery of cases for examination. • Assist with necropsies and collection of samples and manage the strandings data and sample archive. • Assist with generation of hypotheses, data analysis and report writing. • Assist with the dissemination of data, reports and information pertaining to the stranding scheme, delivering talks and promoting the work of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding scheme. • Assisting with general laboratory work for up to 20% of the time. *Essential skills and qualifications* • A degree in a relevant biological area* or* significant practical experience with strandings, pathology or disease epidemiology. • An imaginative, innovative and forward looking attitude. • Good experience of managing data archives. • Excellent communication skills. • A willingness to work a non standard set of hours. The role a permanent position and salary will be in the region of £21,130 - £24,510 per annum. Overall this unique post offers an opportunity for an imaginative and motivated individual to develop their skills in marine mammal epidemiology in a professional and supportive environment. * * *Further details and application pack:* * * http://www.sac.ac.uk/vacancies/ https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?owner=5062827&ownertype=fair… *Closing date for applications: 16th July 2012* Many thanks Andrew ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Andrew Brownlow PhD MRCVS SAC Wildlife Unit, Inverness, UK, IV2 4JZ www.strandings.org

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Anomalously pigmented dolphin between Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands)
by Marcel Gil 01 Jul '12

01 Jul '12

Hi, I am new on this forum so I start saying hello to all the members! I hope I will learn a lot reading your messages :) Anyway, I write to ask about a strange dolphin I saw a month ago between Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands). It was together with a group of more than 40 short-beaked common dolphins and I saw it from the fast (not the fastest!) ferry that links the 2 islands, so that's the only picture I managed to take. The animal reminds me a Long-beaked common dolphin, but it doesn't match all the features. I think long-beaked have never been sighted in the Canaries and looking at the internet, I've found there are some hybrids. I am aware of the variability of short-beaked common dolphins, but I've never seen an animal like that... You can see a picture at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5kz148v5drxnrld/delphinus%20sp..jpg Does anyone have seen similar dolphins? Many thanks! Marcel -- birdingbytrain.wordpress.com

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