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Cheetah Conservation Fund  

Monterey Bay Whale Watch

Whale Watch Fundraiser
for Cheetah Conservation Fund
April 8, 2023 starting at 9 a.m.


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Special 5-hour trip with Dr. Laurie Marker

Join Monterey Bay Whale Watch Saturday April 8, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with special guest Dr. Laurie Marker, the foremost expert in Cheetah conservation, for a 5-hour whale watch supporting the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Tickets are $105 per person, with all sales and donations going directly to CCF!

I (Nancy Black) hope you can accompany Laurie and me for a special whale watch on Monterey Bay! As the owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch and an active marine biologist involved with whale research, my Killer Whale research has been featured on the Blue Planet, National Geographic, PBS, BBC and other outlets. For this special trip I will be joined by other marine biologists and killer whale experts, including Colleen Talty (California Killer Whale Project), for an extended whale watch. Passengers will also have ample time to talk with and hear more about the race to save cheetahs from extinction from the leading cheetah expert Dr. Laurie Marker.

During this special trip guests will have an opportunity to spend more time with the wildlife we encounter and cover a larger area looking for a variety of marine mammals and seabirds compared to our regular trips. The boat will depart at 9 a.m. and return around 2 p.m. with a flexible end time depending on sightings and weather.     

April is prime time to see Killer Whales in Monterey Bay! We could possibly encounter a variety of species including Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Killer Whales, Risso's Dolphins, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, Harbor Porpoise, Dall's Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphins, rare Beaked Whales, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, and a large variety of seabirds (see listing and photos of seabirds observed on our trips). In near shore and harbor waters we will see California Sea Lions, Sea Otters, and Harbor Seals. Although it's not possible to encounter all these species in one day, we have a great chance of finding many with the opportunity to spend time watching their behaviors.

Monterey Bay Whale Watch has conducted fundraising trips for animal groups such as the American Cetacean (whale & dolphin) Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, as well as the Cheetah Conservation Fund for several years. Dr. Laurie Marker has been a personal role model for me and someone I tremendously admire for her incredible work that has spanned over 30 years with groundbreaking science, conservation and education in efforts to save cheetahs in the wild.  She also serves as a mentor and advisor around the world for other nonprofits, resulting in a huge impact on cheetah conservation in Africa. I have visited her facility in Namibia and what an amazing experience to witness her conservation efforts firsthand.

There are many similarities between African safaris and whale watching in Monterey Bay. The diversity and abundance of species in Monterey Bay rivals some of the best wildlife zones in Africa. Several hundreds of dolphins are comparable to herds of antelopes; groups of large baleen whales could be the counterpart to elephants and hippos; the social complexity and intelligence of larger primates and dolphins are well documented; the social structure of sperm whales is comparable to elephants; predators high on the food chain such as large cats and wild dogs match the stealth of mammal hunting Killer Whales and the power of large sharks; scavengers like hyenas and vultures match the abilities of some sharks, albatrosses, and other seabirds. The most exciting is the mystery of what animals will be encountered in each situation and that every day is different. Just as it's not a daily occurrence to see a cheetah chase and take down an antelope, it's also by chance to witness Humpback Whales lunge out of the water with their mouths wide open to engulf hundreds of fish or a Killer Whale toss a seal 30 feet into the air by its tail fluke!

Tickets are $105 per person for both adults and children (no children under age 6), although nonrefundable they are transferable. Light snacks and drinks will be provided (finger sandwiches, cookies, chips, soda, hot drinks) at no extra cost. 

Reservations are required. You can sign up by using our online Fundraiser Cruise reservation form or by calling (831) 375-4658. Reserve early since the number of spaces are limited for this very special whale watching trip! I hope you can join me in supporting one of my favorite conservation organizations, with Dr. Laurie Marker, a conservation hero of our times!

See a video of a talk at TEDxPortland by Dr. Laurie Marker entitled "What if we lost the cheetah?"

 

  Dr. Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund

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Photos from the Cheetah Conservation Fund
 
Photos from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips
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photos from the Cheetah Conservation Fund
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See our Facebook photo gallery of
photos from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips.

 

 

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Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC
84 Fisherman's Wharf
Monterey, CA 93940
 
Phone 831-375-4658  
E-mail whaletrips@gowhales.com
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Photos copyright © Daniel Bianchetta and CCF