on both of them. After several months Debby is a female dolphin seen for of rehabilitation, Silvester and Michael the first time in 1991. We see her quite Dear Friends were returned to the sea on 25th Where are they often on both sides of the island of September. Lošinj. So far she had had two calves, As a part of the project “NGO capacity now? Višnja in the year 2000 and Minkie in For us in Blue World, this year was audibly interpret various subjects, building for implementation of 2006. Debby is a very responsible special – we celebrate our 10th thanks to the EU PHARE project. NATURA 2000 priority actions” that mother that takes good care of her anniversary! On such a jubilee, people Besides that, on the blue walls of the was conducted under the EU PHARE Mush is an adult male dolphin with an youngsters. Seeing Debby became usually look back and try to recall centre you can find some sea dwellers 2006 programme in cooperation with extremely interesting dorsal fin shape particularly exciting since the appear- everything that marked the past – the jolly illustrations of a whale, crab NGO Natura, three short promotional which makes him easily recognizable ance of Minkie. This extremely decade, but it would simply be too and jellyfish that our regular adopters videos on the threats to the whales on the sea. He is a very curious animal curious calf would come to our bow much for this issue of “Akvamarin” will remember from last year’s “Akva- and dolphins were made and aired on that enjoys our company and regularly to whistling invite us to join the game. that stands before you – the 9th in a marin”. Also, the wall above the stairs the Croatian TV. Also, a short docu- rewards our presence with some of During our meetings, Debby would row. Nevertheless, there’s something is now a beautiful mural showing the mentary was filmed, educational work- his fantastic jumps. Throughout this always keep her eyes on her playful to say about the ending year. Besides 12 whale and dolphin species occur- books and numerous leaflets were year we have often seen Mush in the calf. Since 2009 we started to see the everyday routine, there are ring in the Mediterranean Sea. printed; of course all on the subject of central part of our study area, espe- Debby alone again. This means that definitely days to remember. But, first There was plenty of work for our dolphins and marine biodiversity. cially during the winter months. In the Minkie most likely became indepen- things first… research team in Lošinj. Contrary to I guess, you’ve had enough of news summer, he surprised us with his dent and that Debby could soon During 2009 the Lošinj Marine Educa- the previous year when we had difficul- from the Blue World by now and you presence in the vicinity of the islet surprise by having a newborn which Debby tion Centre hosted even more school ties finding dolphins, it was all wish do discover what else is hidden in Dolfin, near the island of Rab. He is we quite look forward to. During the groups and individual visitors than compensated this summer. During 93 this “Akvamarin”. Our previous often seen in company of his friends past year have been enjoying her previous years. Those that visited us boat surveys we encountered dolphins supporters will notice that, again, we Meta, Elmar, Duje and Maestral. Mush company especially around the could have seen some new attractions on 102 occasions, but one weekend changed the layout, so this year you’ll During the spring time, when dolphins islands of Ilovik, Oruda and Trstenik in our centre. The biggest of all is will for sure remain deeply carved in find a poster with the picture of bottle- start socializing more often on the sea where we saw her the most. definitely the “acoustic chamber” – surface, Mush and his gang regularly our memories. What a weekend! The Besides that, we also saw, what many nose dolphin near the island of Vis. We previously the storage under the stairs record breaking weekend! We spent hope that this picture will remind you amaze us with some new stunts. We consider the most beautiful dolphin, Meta is a male dolphin well known to Sonja is an adult female with a very – it is now a portal to two audible several hours on Saturday accompa- of summer and will smile at you from look forward to our new meetings with striped dolphin; a loner that has been our research crew. He is regularly peculiar dorsal fin that looks like a underwater experiences; the winter nied by a group of 58 dolphins. Full of your wall, wishing you all the best in Mush. wandering around Vinodolski chanel seen in the very core of our study sickle. She is a highly sociable and experience of waves lapping and impressions from that day, knowing the 2010! for years now. area, especially in the vicinity of the often seen in big groups of mothers micro-organisms crackling in the sea; that it was the most numerous pod The research in Vis archipelago was islands Oruda and Palacol. His dorsal with calves. Sonja is seen on both and the summer experience of irritat- ever recorded in our area of research, Grgur Plesli also successfully continued, meaning ć fin is also distinctive and he is easy to eastern and western side of the island ing noise produced by boat engines. we couldn’t even dare to think that we have our hands full of data to be recognize on the sea, even from the of Lošinj and along the southern parts Our information panels now also have right the next day dolphins will break analyzed during the winter. Luckily, a distance. He is a playful animal that of the archipelago around the islands multimedia screens that visually and that record – 60 dolphins in one pod! significant part of the job has already often approaches our boat checking of Silba, Premuda and Ilovik. She also Wow! been done with help of our volunteers. us out. Meta is a real athlete capable surprised us with her sudden visit to Thank you! of performing extreme jumps proving Mali Lošinj harbour. During 2009 we We also contributed in rescuing two each time his physical strength to had seen her in the company of Debby, sea turtles. Silvester was found on the observers. We usually see him with Celina, Quiz and their calves in the Silvester night 2008, bearing a severe Mush, Elmar, Duje and Maestral central part of our study area. We look open wound on its right flipper. The attending their acrobatic games. Meta forward seeing Sonja again! other one, named Michael, was and his lively group were regularly caught on the long line with two seen throughout this year, and in the Written by Nikolina Rako, fishing hooks stuck in its throat. The winter we often enjoyed their Blue World’s Head Researcher experts of the sea turtle rehabilitation presence close to the coast of the centre in Pula successfully operated island of Lošinj. Sonja Meta 2009 After that, we named him Santiago – from the fisherman of Hemingway’s novel “The The best days Old Man and the Sea”. Dolphin day Another unforgettable day with dolphins Dolphin Day occurred in the middle of August while on the sea researching area around island Trstenik. The 17th Dolphin day was held on August Blue World would like to thank all the There, we found a group of 60 dolphins. the 1st in Veli Lošinj. As is tradition it sponsors and donators that enabled our started with the putting up of the exhibition work in 2009: This year we have had many interesting Among them were several mothers with of children's drawings. Veli Lošinj bay was encounters with dolphins which we will calves already known to us. They kept their covered with drawings of cheerful sea remember for a long time. Groups of distance from our boat, from time to time creatures with our research boat and crew. mothers with calves always induce a special allowing their calves to relax and do a jump KIDS All of the 350 drawings were done with a lot feeling and excitement in us, especially if a or two. The bravest among them were Mali’s of imagination and hard work. Our drawing newborn is among them. Newborns are and Raissa’s calves. They approached us committee along with public vote decided extremely cute when rising up to the few times to bow ride, and were whistling so that Emily Cunjak's drawing was a real surface. They seem to be really trying hard loud we could hear them above the surface. CORNER masterwork and awarded her for the best European and using all her strength in those moments, In that large group, there were also the ‘old’ Commission drawing of this year's exhibition. Her always putting almost half of their body dolphins, Debbie, Taba, Vuk, Phil, Mida, Inja, in Croatia beautiful work you can see on the cover of above the surface. We had a several Sonja and about ten other dolphins that are Akvamarin. encounters like that this year. That fact fulfils very familiar with our boat. Besides the traditional “Treasure hunt” us with joy and awakes optimism in us. However, none of us was as impressed as game and artistic workshops for children, Then again, groups of playful 'teenagers' when a larger group of young dolphins in front of Lošinj Marine Education Centre, B S T A R F I S H E that astonish us with their performances began to perform shows which would have Ministry of Science, this year we organized a water polo tourna- every time are also something special. In the envied by the best acrobats of the world. It Education and Sports of Croatia ment in Rovenska bay with a great help beginning of summer we found one of these was really the kind of playing rarely seen. In W H A L E O T M T S from “Lošinj” water polo club. Also, this groups not far away from the small island of every direction we’d look, at least one year we organized a small Eco fair City of Oruda. That encounter we’ll undoubtedly dolphin would be “in the air”. Mush, Anna, representing organizations like “Idem i ja“, Mali Lošinj L E A N U T N U O R remember for a long time. It was a group of Duje and Lily carried out such synchronized “Žerna“, “Ultramarin“, “Garden of Fine young male dolphins. Dolphins were very jumps that were reminiscent of the Scents“, and “Lush“. In cooperation with active and from the commotion they were well-rehearsed ballet. Others were showing J E L L Y F I S H O “Lush“ we started the action “Lush causing on the sea surface we noticed fish their skills by jumping five meters in the air. donates money from soaps!“ – money jumping out. Clearly, we had interrupted Regardless of previous knowledge about the earned from the “Blue world“ soap made L O B S T E R S S H their lunch. As we didn’t want to disturb undoubted high intelligence and well by Lush from 01.08.2009 until 30.09.2009 them we kept a greater distance than usual. developed social structure of dolphins, from was donated to Blue World for research But, in the group there was one dolphin that time to time, they still find a way to leave us E D S P O N G E O A and conservation of the marine environ- obviously wasn’t hungry anymore and found breathless. They amaze us with their playful- ment as well as education. In the evening, our boat more interesting than his meal. He ness, curiosity and affection. Some of their all visitors of 17th Dolphin Day could enjoy L P S H A R K L H E approached the boat several times, actions, for example what Santiago did, the music of Alen Èeliæ and friends. For the curiously swam around it and then returned place a question in our minds about how fans of the 7th art we organised a small to the others. Once, when he approached us much we really do know about their life in the I O C T O P U S N S projection of movies about sea in Timi and we noticed a fish in his mouth. All of a wild, and remind us why it is necessary to Beach Bar, also the place for the after Special thanks to all our volunteers and sudden, he dropped it right next to our boat! devote additional attention to them and party. dolphin adopters whose support in 2009 It seemed as he is saying: “Here guys, you protect them. After we gathered our impressions we was of great help to our work! have this one - I’m not hungry anymore!”. We concluded we organised yet another knew this dolphin from before, but we hadn’t Alena Sprèiæ Find the names of marine animals listed below! successful Dolphin day. We hope you had Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to yet given him a name. If you succeed to nd them all, the unused letters fun as well and see you next year! all! will give you the name of a marine mammal species in the Adriatic Sea. Vlasta Pavièiæ Front page: Hidden words: JELLYFISH, LOBSTER, MUSSEL, OCTOPUS, SEA Detail of the winning drawing on 17 Dolphin HORSE, SHARK, SPONGE, STARFISH, TUNA, WHALE Day - 9 year old Emily Cunjak from Jušiæi Jurdani Croatia.

Santiago with a fish Impressum Editor: Jelena Jovanović / Writers: Grgur Pleslić , Nikolina Rako, Alena Sprč i ć , Vlasta Pavič i ć / Translations: Peter Mackelworth / Photos: Alena Sprč i ć , Nikolina Rako, Grgur Pleslić , Draško Holcer (poster) / Design and illustrations: Anton Horvatović / Publisher: Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation / Veli Lošinj, 2009.