Su Rai 5 “Il regno delle balene”, tra istinto e intelligenza

The "Cap Cetacés" missions start in 2000, aiming at improving the conservation state of the cetacean populations of the Pelagos sanctuary in the North -Western Mediterranean. The last six years, the programme, led by Denis Ody, cetacean and ambassador boat programme officer, focus on contamination and collision issues for the larger species: fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), sperm whales/cachalot (Physeter macrocephalus) and pilot whales (Globicephala). We deploy tags to understand better their behavior in the vincinity of ships, and we collect biopsies of skin and blubber. Skin sampling makes it possible to know the sexing, to identify the animal, its relationship, its genetic structure, the size of its population. Fat gives information about her pregnancy status and the rate of contaminants (phthalates) in the body.