Whales of the Mediterranean Sea

A new 5-part documentary film series, Whales of the Mediterranean Sea, highlights the threats to whales and dolphins and the battle to conserve them and their habitat in the Mediterranean. The final 15-minute program in the series is now complete and can be watched for free a by clicking here..

The Australia-based filmmakers are Chris and Genevieve Johnson from earthOCEAN, known for producing the award-winning PBS website covering the 85,000-mile “Voyage of the Odyssey” with Roger Payne (2000-2005).

The other 4 parts of the series are also available on the site. Each video lasts 12—18 minutes and offers insightful interviews with scientists, rare original video of sperm and pilot whales, bottlenose, common and Risso’s dolphins in the wild and superb graphics to lead to a greater understanding of this ancient sea. Teachers are able to download the videos as an educational resource, using the classroom notes for teachers provided on the site.

WDCS had a major role in the making of the films, along with Oceana, Tethys Research Institute, OceanCare, WWF, Alnitak, Pelagos Research Institute and other research and conservation groups, all of which are working to make a future for cetaceans as part of the regional treaty ACCOBAMS — Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area.

EarthOCEAN consists of Chris and Genevieve Johnson. Chris produces, directs and does the filming while Genevieve writes and narrates. The videos are inspirational and accurate, providing glimpses into work on conservation and science with greater depth and sensitivity than National Geographic, Animal Planet or other strictly commercial films. At present the videos are in English but they will soon be available in Spanish, French, Greek and other languages.

EarthOCEAN welcomes the efforts of schools, local communities and NGOs interested in showing the films to publicize the problems of cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Schools, communities and NGOs can link to and use the online materials or download high-resolution programs via iTunes (e.g., for use in classrooms) but for educational and non-commercial uses only.


Click here for the flash version


Click here for QuickTime version.


Click here for the podcast, available in iTunes only.

Source: WDCS