Research at OCN: How seals respond to orca calls

Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN) has conducted behavioural studies on seals at Pelican Point together with French scientist Isabelle Charrier.

Charrier, who specialises in the acoustic communication of marine mammals, spent several weeks on the Namibian coast working with OCN. The focus of her work was on so called playback experiments. In these tests, recordings of orca vocalisations were played underwater, as orcas are natural predators of seals. The aim was to closely observe and systematically analyse the animals’ reactions under controlled conditions.

The researchers paid particular attention to whether the seals responded to the sounds, for example by searching for the source, changing their level of attention or moving towards it. Such behaviours provide insights into how the animals perceive, distinguish and interpret acoustic signals in their environment.

The results of these observations are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of seals’ sensory perception and behaviour. At the same time, they provide a basis for future research and for the protection of the animals in their natural habitat off the Namibian coast.