National Marine Mammal Foundation

Can One Species Inspire a Global Movement? ???? Join us to find out. . Dr. Cynthia Smith will share the story of the unprecedented international rescue mission to save the last vaquitas from extinction. From her first-hand experiences as the program manager for this urgent effort, she will take us on a journey from heartbreak to hope. . Just as the species seemed to slip through our hands, vaquitas sparked a new conservation movement that is bringing hope for their survival and for the future of other aquatic mammals on the path towards extinction. . Register here: https://lnkd.in/eVzHfq7D . #operationgrace #storytelling #virtualseminar #endangeredspecies #dolphins #porpoises #whales #community #collaboration #conservation #onehealth #science #dolphindoctor #vaquitacpr #vaquitas

?? Join the NMMF Team as a Volunteer Social Media Communications Assistant! ?? Are you passionate about marine mammal science and conservation? Do you have a knack for storytelling through social media? The National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) is looking for a Volunteer Social Media Communications Assistant to support our mission of advancing marine mammal health, science, and conservation. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while gaining hands-on experience in social media strategy, content creation, and community engagement for a leading organization in marine conservation. https://lnkd.in/g8UcAdh8

Kicking Off 2025 with Gratitude and Hope! As we dive into a new year, we’re reflecting on the incredible impact we made together in 2024. Thanks to your unwavering support, the NMMF has achieved groundbreaking milestones in marine mammal science, medicine, and conservation: - Shared landmark discoveries on minke whale hearing to inform global policies to better protect baleen whales from ocean noise. - Assessed the health of Amazon river dolphins, a critical step in addressing challenges posed by unprecedented climate change. - Developed technology to monitor free-swimming dolphin heart rates and rhythms. - Empowered communities in Kenya to protect Indian Ocean humpback dolphins. - Eavesdropped on dolphins as they communicate to better understand how sound production may reflect changes in their health. - Adapted human medical devices to collect blood from dolphin skin, paving the way for future remote sampling from free-swimming dolphins and whales. - Expanded Dolphin Doctor workshops, inspiring future generations of marine mammal champions. These accomplishments, and many more, are fueled by your compassion and commitment. As we dive into 2025, we remain steadfast in our mission to care for, conserve, and protect aquatic mammals. Together, we’ll continue to create lasting change. Read the full message from our President and CEO, Dr. Cynthia Smith, at www.nmmf.org/donate Here’s to another year of progress and possibility for the animals, nature, and our planet! #MarineMammals #Dolphins #Whales #Porpoises #Conservation #OceanConservation #ThankYou #Hope #ThrivingBlueFuture #HelpUsHelpThem #GiveAFlip

NEWS: Scientists unlock secrets of minke whale hearing, and the results are surprising! . Published today in @sciencemagazine, the unexpected discovery of ultrasonic hearing sensitivity in minke whales will improve the conservation and protection of baleen whales worldwide. This first-ever vital data on baleen whale hearing will assist regulators in creating policies that mitigate ocean noise negatively impacting whales. . Whales rely on sound to communicate, forage, and navigate the world’s oceans. Six species of baleen whales are currently classified as endangered, making protection from human-made ocean noise critical to their survival. . Learn more about the groundbreaking study and today’s publication at: https://lnkd.in/gNzdVsRG . Photo: Jason Gedamke, SOST Minke Whale Hearing Project #NMMF #FFI #SOST #whales #conservation #science #norway #minkewhale #collaboration #oceannoise #news #whaleconservation #baleenwhales #marineresearch #oceanprotection

When we act collectively, we create hope and change. ?????? . We are honored to announce that @dolphinquest is matching every dollar donated to Operation GRACE, up to $200,000, to protect the most vulnerable dolphins, porpoises, and whales on the planet. This means your contribution will have double the impact, helping safeguard the species we all care about. . We need all hands on deck to help us implement sustainable solutions that benefit animals, people, and the ecosystems we all rely on.? . Join us today and be part of the story of hope. Donate at link in bio! . #operationgrace #endangeredspecies #dolphins #vaquitas #whales #conservationmedicine #onehealth #oneteam #collaboration #community #challengematch #seasonofgiving

#SealtoSEAL was a fintastic success! Navy SEALs and sea lions joined forces for a very special mission - to spark curiosity and inspire future STEAM leaders. . Our much anticipated annual workshop engaged students in hands-on activities to teach about human and marine mammal diving physiology and ocean conservation. . This program is made possible with support from the Office of Naval Research’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Outreach Program, and our dream team of collaborators at NIWC Pacific, Naval Special Warfare Outreach, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UC San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma MWR, Navy Region Southwest School Liaisons, and SEALKIDS. . Thank you to the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, our NMMF Community Engagement and Animal Care Teams, and our volunteers for making Seal to SEAL a transformative learning experience for all. . Learn more about our educational programs at link in bio! . #nmmf #NIWCPacific #onr #SealtoSEAL #DolphinDoctor #education #outreach #communityengagement #conservation #marinemammals #navyseals #OneNAVWAR #STEM #STEMSquad #makeadifference #NavalSTEM @navwar_usnavy Naval Special Warfare Command @usnavyresearch SEALKIDS The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill U.S. Navy SEAL & SWCC Page Navy Life Southwest Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)

Go San Diego! The @padres beat the Rockies 3-2, and the NMMF scored a spot at the Padres Foundation Community Kiosk at Petco Park. ?????? . We engaged guests in marine science activities, spotlighting our local student workshops, and shared the latest news from our #OperationGRACE endangered species conservation efforts. Definitely a win-win! ?? . #nmmf #padres #sandiego #operationgrace #communityengagement #dolphins #whales #conservation #steam #oceanambassadors #porpoisesatthepark

?? Did you know that bottlenose dolphins rely heavily on their whistles for communication? And that loud noise from human activity can interrupt that communication and other important behaviors? Our recent study with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program found that exposure to moderate anthropogenic noise levels doesn’t affect the whistle rates of the Navy’s bottlenose dolphins. This means that these social marine mammals are maintaining their communication even in noisy environments. . Our research used advanced acoustic monitoring by deploying a specialized array of hydrophones in the San Diego Bay. We meticulously recorded and analyzed the whistle rates of 20 dolphins during various noise events around the clock for over three years! This innovative approach allowed us to capture detailed data on their vocal behavior, providing valuable insights into their resilience and adaptability. . This research is crucial for understanding how human activities impact marine life. Dive into our study to learn more about our methods and the implications for marine conservation efforts! Read full article here: https://buff.ly/3Abx2YS . #nmmf #marinemammals #dolphins #conservation #steam

Congratulations to Kristina Martz, our Executive Operations Officer, on being named San Diego Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader! ?? Kristina sat down for an interview with TAVO Media Group to reflect on this recognition, share her take on the future of business in San Diego, and talk about the great work being done by the NMMF in STEAM education and global conservation. Thank you Alaska Airlines for your support in shining a light on San Diego’s influential local business leaders. Drop a ?? to congratulate Kristina! #nmmf #oneteam #community #STEAM #conservation #sandiegobusinessjournal #leadership #40under40

?? We’re taking a moment in these squares to celebrate a major milestone for some very special NMMF team members. Congratulations to Veronica Cendejas, Risa Daniels, Erika Putman, Cynthia Smith, Dorian Houser, Chris Hammell, Randall Dear, Patrick Moore, and Mike Marchesano for 15 YEARS and to Katie Heuermann, Alan Lewis, Brian Lewis, Joel Tiller, Brenda Bauer, Gavin Goya, Steve Martin, Jesse Ehrhardt, Taylor Megginson, Sal Koutsis, Leah Crafton, Kari Wickersham, Kiersten Spinn, Megan Chase, Brittany Novick, Teri Wu, Hannah Bateman, and Megan Dire for 10 YEARS of service with the NMMF! . These rockstars bring extensive expertise along a range of functions like veterinary medicine, animal care and training, bioacoustics research, human resources, information technology, data analysis, and software development. We are grateful for their commitment to our mission, continually advancing marine mammal care, science, and conservation, innovating technology, and cultivating a supportive work environment for our team members. . Drop a ?? to help us celebrate their milestones! #nmmf #oneteam #10years #15years #workanniversary #dreamteam #marinemammals #science #service #education #conservation