Discovering the Pelagos Sanctuary
Education and Awareness
On the morning of June 24, as part of our marine awareness initiatives, two 5th-grade classes from École Saint-Charles took part in a boat trip to discover the species of the Pelagos Sanctuary.
This excursion, offered by the company Monaco Riviera Navigation, allowed them to put into practice the knowledge they had learned in class about Mediterranean marine mammals.
During the cruise, the students were lucky enough to observe an Atlantic puffin.
They also spotted several pods of striped dolphins, numbering dozens of individuals. In accordance with the code of good conduct for cetacean observation, the boat maintained an appropriate distance and speed so as not to disturb the animals. The dolphins then spontaneously approached the vessel to play in the waves at the bow and stern, offering the students a privileged moment of observation.
An unexpected encounter concluded the trip: the students were able to see a fin very likely belonging to a shortfin mako shark, a species classified as critically endangered in the Mediterranean.
We warmly thank Monaco Riviera Navigation for their support and contribution to this educational initiative, which allowed the students to discover the marine wildlife off our coasts and to better understand the importance of its preservation.
Photo credit : AMPN
