Citizen Science
Citizen Science
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Helping Monitor Galápagos Cetaceans Together
Helping Monitor Galápagos Cetaceans Together
Every whale and dolphin sighting contributes to our understanding of the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
Through our Citizen Science Network, naturalist guides, captains, researchers, photographers, and ocean enthusiasts share sightings that help expand our knowledge of cetacean distribution, seasonality, behavior, and habitat use across the archipelago.
How It Works
How It Works
1. Join the Community
1. Join the Community
Join our WhatsApp Citizen Science Network.
2. Observe
2. Observe
Photograph whales or dolphins.
3. Record
3. Record
Note the date, location, species, and group size.
4. Share
4. Share
Send your sighting and photos to the WhatsApp group.
What Information Should I Record?
What Information Should I Record?
Why Your Sightings Matter
Why Your Sightings Matter
Every whale and dolphin sighting helps researchers better understand the distribution, behavior, and seasonality of cetaceans in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Together, we can build a long-term record that supports scientific research and conservation.
What we do with this information?
What we do with this information?
Featured Reports 2026
Featured Reports 2026
Date: 18 January 2026
Time:
Location: Corona del Diablo
Boat: Islander II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 200+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Anahi Concari
Observations: Frequently observed leaping.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 15 February 2026
Time: 06:30 at Gardner Bay anchorage; 07:30–12:00 in the southern bay of Gardner Islet
Location: Gardner Bay Anchorage and Gardner Islet
Coordinates:
Boat: National Geographic Endeavour II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 100+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Benjamin Ayala, Naturalist Guides, Crew, and Guests
Observations: Playing, leaping, socializing, and interacting with objects such as rocks and seaweed using their fins.
Photos/Videos: Yes (Videos)
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 10:20
Location: Marchena Island (Punta Espejo)
Coordinates: 0°18′56″ N, 90°23′56″ W
Boat: Nortada
Species: Killer Whale (Orca)
Number of Individuals: 1
Presence of Calves: No
Observer: Billy Bensted-Smith, Inti Keith
Observations: A solitary adult male was observed feeding on a sea turtle. After consuming parts of the turtle, it played with the carcass by carrying it on its head and dorsal fin.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 6 April 2026
Time: 06:30 AM
Location: North of Punta Espinoza Anchorage, Fernandina Island
Coordinates:
Boat: National Geographic Endeavour II
Species: Common Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 100+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Carlos Romero, Mayte Paredes, Jason Heilman, Celso Montalvo, Anahi Concari, Bernardo Jácome, Benjamin Ayala, Guests, and Crew
Observations: Traveling east alongside a whale, likely a Bryde's whale (possibly two individuals, although they were never observed closely). During the interaction, the dolphins did not increase their speed or show signs of panic, which is unusual for this species. The presence of juveniles in the group may have influenced their behavior.
Photos/Videos:
Date: 27 March 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Gardner Bay (Snorkeling Site)
Coordinates:
Boat: National Geographic Gemini
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: Approximately 100
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Doménica Guerrero, Javier Carrión, Joaquín Berdonces, and Walter Pérez
Observations: Social play behavior involving objects such as seaweed and sea urchins. Pairs of dolphins were observed engaging in physical contact, including gentle biting around the tail region. The group formed smaller subgroups, including pairs that may represent affiliative or socio-sexual interactions, as well as possible adult–calf pairs based on body size differences and close association.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 02 February 2026
Time: 11:15
Location: Gardner Bay
Coordinates:
Boat: Islander II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: Approximately 100
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Francisco Flores, Wilson Lopez, Felipe Wittmer, Tania Helmig, Dennis Ballesteros
Observations: Playing at the surface before traveling northeast, apparently toward San Cristóbal Island.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 21 January 2026
Time:
Location: Bartolomé
Coordinates:
Boat: Grand Majestic
Species: Killer Whale (Orca)
Number of Individuals: 5
Presence of Calves: 1 calf
Observer: Eduardo Guerrero (Guayo)
Observations: Frequently observed leaping.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 09:20
Location: Between Punta Espejo and Playa Negra, moving toward Playa Negra before changing course to the southwest.
Coordinates:
Boat: Samba
Species: Killer Whale (Orca)
Number of Individuals: 4
Presence of Calves: 1 calf
Observer: Morris
Observations: A pod consisting of one adult male, one adult female, one calf, and one younger individual that was not always traveling with the group. Approximately one hour later, another adult male was observed near Punta Espejo. It is unclear whether it was following the pod or was part of the same group.
Photos/Videos:
Date: 17 January 2026
Location: Bartolomé
Species: Killer Whales (Orcas)
Boat: Islander II
Coordinates: 0°17'3" S, 90°33'23" W Observer: Anahi Concari
Presence of Calves: No
Number of Individuals: 2
Observations: Feeding on a sea turtle?
Date: 18 January 2026
Time:
Location: Corona del Diablo
Coordinates:
Boat: Islander II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 200+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Anahi Concari
Observations: Frequently observed leaping.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 5 June 2026
Time: 3:15 PM
Location: Northeast of Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island
Coordinates: -0.243, -91.43
Boat: Endemic
Species: Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Number of Individuals: 500+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Carlos Palma
Observations: Feeding northeast of Punta Espinoza.
Photos/Videos:
Date: 10 March 2026
Time: 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM
Location: Floreana Island
AM: Between Punta Cormorant and Corona del Diablo
PM: Post Office Bay
Coordinates:
Boat: Celebrity Flora
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 300+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Karen Ascencio
Observations: Observed in two different locations around Floreana during the morning and afternoon.
Photos/Videos: Yes (Videos)
Date: 27 March 2026
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Floreana Island (heading east, possibly toward Champion Islet)
Coordinates:
Boat:
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: Approximately 40–60
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Sofia Torres
Observations: Group traveling east. Initially reported as common dolphins, later confirmed as bottlenose dolphins. Calves were present.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Featured Reports 2025
Featured Reports 2025
Date: 21 December 2025
Time: 10:00
Location: Near Champion Islet, in the channel between Champion Islet and Floreana Island
Boat: National Geographic Islander II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 50–100
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Benjamin Ayala, Naturalist Guides, and the National Geographic Islander II Crew
Observations: Traveling in a constant direction with frequent leaps. One adult was photographed with remoras attached and a wound on its flank, possibly caused by a cookiecutter shark.
Photos/Videos: Yes (Photo by Benjamin Ayala)
Date: 16 December 2025
Time: 11:15 AM
Location: Floreana (between Corona del Diablo and Punta Cormorán)
Coordinates:
Boat: Celebrity Flora
Species: Dolphins
Number of Individuals: 300+
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Karen Ascencio
Observations: Feeding and traveling.
Photos/Videos: Yes
Date: 15 December 2025
Time: 09:30
Location: North Seymour
Coordinates:
Boat: Endeavour II
Species: Bottlenose Dolphins
Number of Individuals: Approximately 200
Presence of Calves: Yes
Observer: Cindy Manning, Claudia Molina, Fernando Ortiz, Carlos Carrion, Ivan Vasquez, Celso Montalvo, Dennis Ballesteros
Observations: Feeding.
Photos/Videos: Yes
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