In Senegal, an inspiring initiative is leveraging the evocative sounds of whales to educate children about environmental protection and marine biodiversity. The association Germes d’Écocitoyens à travers les sciences et les traditions dans les univers d’apprentissage (Gestu) is spearheading this unique project. Recently, Gestu organized three interactive sessions in Dakar primary schools, featuring Professor Olivier Adam, a renowned cetacean specialist. We visited Alieu Samb primary school in Dakar’s Ngor district to witness one of these fascinating introductions to the complex language of whales.
Thirty primary students in this CM2 class sat captivated at their desks, listening intently to a recording of a humpback whale. These majestic sounds were captured off the coast of Ouakam, Dakar, in 2018 and 2022.
Professor Olivier Adam, a Sorbonne academic and expert in cetacean acoustics, explained to the young audience: « These songs, these sounds you’ve heard, belong to humpback whales. Humpback whales travel to Dakar to give birth here. Their offspring are, in essence, Dakarois ».
For Professor Adam, a specialist in the vocalizations of marine mammals, it is profoundly important to share the understanding that whales possess a true language. « I was initially astonished when I first recorded whales and discovered they emit sounds that are intentional and structured like a language, » revealed the professor, who traveled from Paris specifically to engage with the children. « Every time I meet students, children, I feel they absolutely must know this. We need to comprehend our oceans, and we can only truly understand them by knowing the living species within them. »
The curious youngsters eagerly posed a barrage of questions: « How many stomachs does a whale have? How many types of whales exist? How do whales give birth? What do they eat? »
Fanta, a 12-year-old student, shared that « their song and their way of communicating » left the deepest impression on her.
Thierry, the CM2 teacher at Alieu Samb school in Dakar’s Ngor neighborhood, emphasized the critical importance of this education on the living world. He recounted his own learning: « Without this knowledge, you wouldn’t know, for example, what I just learned: that a whale can only have one calf per birth. This means it’s a species that, if not protected, could disappear. »
Babacar Sy, a spearfisherman with over three decades of experience and the individual responsible for recording the whale sounds in Dakar, co-led the workshop. He underscored the urgent need to combat ignorance, noting his daily catches of fish are diminishing. « I was fortunate enough to experience nature as it was, and I’ve watched it change drastically. Last year, I caught only five thiofs all year. If we continue this trend, one day we’ll speak of thiof to our children, and they’ll ask what it is because it no longer exists, » the fisherman lamented. « We are heading into a deep hole. For me, it’s time for people to wake up! »
Professor Olivier Adam and his whale recordings were also welcomed at two other schools in Dakar. Coupled with awareness days focused on waste collection, the Gestu association is determined to help shift public attitudes towards environmental stewardship.
More Stories
US denounces violence against millions of children in DRC during un session
French navy intercepts sanctioned Cameroonian-flagged oil tanker
UN urges donors to fill humanitarian funding gap in DRC’s 2026 response plan