For centuries, marine mammals as well as other species have been excessively abused by men by taking their skin, flesh and oil. Such was the damage to these groups, that now a good number of them are protected by international conventions and national laws to prevent their extinction on the planet, explained Isis Pinto, Manager of MarViva Science and Communities.

Whales are one of the marine mammals who belong to the Cetácea order, from the Greek word Ketos (whale) and Latin Cetus (sea monster). They are considered the world's largest mammals, able to live at sea. Their history is impressive, most modern shapes of whales and dolphins have been around for about 12 million years and the oldest as “cachalotes” whales have been around 23 million years.

The most curious and surprising fact is that the waters of the Coiba National Park are regularly visited by these marine mammals; the most frequent species are tropical spotted dolphin, orca, and humpback whale, assures the MarViva biologist.

According to Pinto, MarViva Foundation through the program it directs, Science and Community, have been concerned about publishing information on populations, behavior and migration of the whales that  travel through our waters. Hence the interest in promoting seminars and workshops such as the one recently: "Workshop on Identification of Cetaceans and Sea Turtles in the Coiba National Park", held in conjunction with the Maritime University of Panama (UMIP), the Tropical Research Institute ( STRI) and the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) directed to fishermen and different members of environmental organizations.

For Pinto, the Foundation, in order to protect whales, works for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal marine resources and promotes whale watching in the areas where these mammals come under compliance with the rules regulating this activity

The biologist says the protection of whales is important not only from the standpoint of preserving the marine environment but also from the perspective of the economic benefits that the activity of whale watching brings to our country. It is very important that Panamá continues to show a firm stance in relation to whaling, we'll be ever vigilant in Marviva, she said.
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