On Thursday 11 June, we visited Sotogrande International School to talk about cetaceans in the Strait of Gibraltar and encourage students to reflect on the issue of cetacean captivity.

Throughout the morning, we delivered four presentations to different classes, sharing knowledge about the cetacean species that inhabit the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the conservation challenges they face.

Our colleague Cristina introduced students to cetacean biology, the different species found in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the research and conservation work carried out by our team.

She was joined by Alexandra Johnston, collaborator of the Save the Iberian Orca project and part of the international NGO Dolphin Project. Alexandra spoke about cetacean captivity and its impact on animal welfare, sharing her experiences in Taiji, Japan, where every year dolphins are captured during the infamous drive hunts, with some individuals sold to marine parks and captive facilities around the world.

Together, Cristina and Alexandra also presented the conservation work carried out by WeWhale Association, with a special focus on the Save the Iberian Orca project and the efforts being made to protect this critically endangered population.

We would like thank teacher Clare-Marie for organising this visit and giving us the opportunity to share our work and give a voice to cetaceans. We are also grateful to Sotogrande International School for welcoming us, and to all the students for their curiosity, participation and thoughtful questions throughout the day.

Education and awareness are essential tools for conservation, and we are always grateful for opportunities to inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.