Saving Senegal’s ocean giants: children learn whale conservation through song
In a classroom in Ngor, a coastal neighborhood of Dakar, thirty wide-eyed 10-year-olds sit attentively at their desks. The air is filled with the haunting, melodic sounds of humpback whales recorded just off the shores of Ouakam. These aren’t random ocean noises—they’re the voices of an endangered species whose survival depends on human awareness.
The lesson comes from Olivier Adam, a cetacean acoustics expert from the Sorbonne, who is in Senegal as part of an initiative led by the association Germes d’Écocitoyens à travers les sciences et les traditions dans les univers d’apprentissage (Gestu). Over the past weeks, the project has brought whale recordings and interactive sessions to three primary schools in the capital, blending science with local maritime traditions.
From classroom to ocean: decoding the songs of giants
Adam’s voice rises above the speakers: “Listen closely. These aren’t just sounds—they’re communication. These whales migrate to Dakar to give birth. Their calves are born here, in Senegalese waters.” The children lean in, captivated by the realization that the ocean off their coastline is a nursery for humpback whales.
The professor shares his personal journey: “When I first recorded these whales, I was stunned. Their songs aren’t random noise—they’re structured, intentional communication. Each population has its own dialect. For children to grasp this early is vital. Understanding ocean life starts with recognizing the voices within it.“
The Q&A session erupts. Hands shoot up: “How many stomachs does a whale have? How many species live here? How do they give birth? What do they eat?”
For Fanta, 12, the whale songs left the deepest impression: “Their music and their way of talking amazed me most.“
Building tomorrow’s guardians of the sea
Thierry, a teacher at Alieu Samb School, emphasizes the urgency of such education: “Without knowing these facts, how can we protect what we don’t understand? For instance, did you know a humpback whale gives birth to only one calf at a time? If we don’t act now, this species could vanish forever.“
The classroom discussions are enriched by the presence of Babacar Sy, a local diver and fisherman with over three decades of experience. Sy, who recorded the whale sounds heard in class, offers a stark warning: “I’ve witnessed the ocean change drastically in my lifetime. Last year, I caught just five groupers all year. If this continues, one day our children won’t know what a grouper is. We’re digging our own grave. It’s time for people to wake up.“
The project, which also includes waste collection awareness sessions, aims to shift mindsets early. By connecting children to the marine giants whose survival depends on clean, thriving oceans, Gestu is planting seeds of stewardship that could shape Senegal’s coastal future.
Whale conservation through science and tradition
Gestu’s approach merges Western science with local ecological wisdom. By using whale recordings—captured by Sy himself—and pairing them with classroom learning, the association bridges gaps between generations and knowledge systems. Children not only hear the whales; they learn to see them as neighbors whose fate is intertwined with their own.
The initiative has reached three Dakar primary schools so far, with plans to expand. Each session ends with a call to action: reduce plastic use, support sustainable fishing, and share what they’ve learned with their families. The message is clear—protecting the ocean isn’t just for scientists. It begins in classrooms like Alieu Samb’s, where the next generation of Senegalese environmental stewards is taking its first steps.
