How Citizen Scientists are Uncovering the Secret Lives of Blue Whales
In Subaun, a picturesque village along Timor-Leste’s cobalt coastline, a remarkable transformation occurs every October and November. What was once a quiet fishing community becomes a bustling whale monitoring station. Led by local fishermen, students, and Australian marine ecologist Professor Karen Edyvane, this grassroots initiative is unlocking the mysteries of pygmy blue whales, one of the ocean’s most elusive giants.
Harnessing Local Knowledge and Technology
For more than a decade, Faustino Mauloko da Cunha, a fisherman in Subaun, has turned his home into the heart of this effort. Equipped with binoculars, telephoto cameras, and drones, villagers and volunteers document the movement and behavior of whales migrating past their shores.
The project’s simplicity belies its success. In just ten years, these citizen scientists have spotted close to 3,000 pygmy blue whales—a staggering achievement for a small, community-led operation.
The Incredible Journey of Pygmy Blue Whales
Each year, hundreds of pygmy blue whales traverse the waters of Timor-Leste during their migration from the Banda Sea to southern Australia. Despite their size and importance, much about these gentle giants has remained unknown.
The Subaun team has documented groundbreaking behaviors, including the intimate moment of a mother nursing her calf—an unprecedented observation in blue whale research.
From Facebook to Field Research: The Birth of Citizen Science
What began as a simple Facebook group in 2014 has evolved into a sophisticated whale monitoring operation. Prof Edyvane trained local fishermen, students, and tour operators in modern research techniques, enabling them to conduct aerial and boat surveys with drones and cameras.
Real-time updates on social media fuel excitement among the community, fostering a sense of collective purpose.
Boosting Tourism and Local Economies
The surge in whale research has also ignited interest in whale-watching tours, a burgeoning industry in Timor-Leste. Dive instructor Cassio Schumacher notes that tours are now “booked up years in advance.”
The da Cunha family has adapted, providing meals for students and tourists during whale season. Zacarias, Faustino’s son, has even taken up drone photography as a new income source.
The Future of Whale Conservation in Timor-Leste
As the project grows, Prof Edyvane envisions expanding research capabilities and using the data to influence government policies. Plans are already underway to train locals like Zacarias to become advocates for marine conservation.
Through education and awareness, the community hopes to ensure these majestic creatures are protected for generations to come.
The citizen science program in Subaun exemplifies how grassroots initiatives can contribute to global conservation efforts. By blending traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology, this small village has become a beacon of hope for protecting one of the ocean’s most extraordinary inhabitants—the pygmy blue whale.