Students go to Brazil to study human-wildlife interactions

Heather Bateman

For the second year, 13 students and two faculty members visited southern Brazil for three weeks in June to explore human-wildlife interactions through the Global Education Office. When College of Integrative Sciences and Arts faculty designed the program, one of the main reasons for visiting Brazil was to witness one of the rare instances of humans collaborating with another species, working together to benefit both. There are two “classic” examples of this: one in Africa, where humans and birds search for beehives together (one gets the honey, the other feeds on insect larvae), and another in Brazil.

Along the Atlantic coast in the state of Santa Catarina, fishers have been collaborating with bottlenose dolphins for more than 150 years. During late fall and early winter, large fish called mullet swim from the ocean to lagoons to breed. The dolphins follow the fish, and the fishers want some of the harvest too. With this human-dolphin cooperation as the focal point, faculty created a study abroad program.

Once in Brazil, we put ourselves in the right place (Laguna, Brazil) at the right time (June, which is winter in the Southern Hemisphere) in hopes of seeing this interaction.

We arrived early in the morning to rain and cold weather. The fishers were on the shore in shelters to stay out of the rain, and no one was fishing. We met the patriarch of the fishing community, who explained that he learned to fish from his father and has been fishing there for more than 50 years.
The fisher explained that the dolphins had moved inland and were not fishing that day. But he was able to spend time with us, explaining that the fishers have given names to and can recognize about 50 individual dolphins. Two dolphins showed up that morning.

He showed us the net used by local fishers, who stand in shallow water and cast it by hand. It is held in both hands, and one part is even held in the fisher’s mouth. The result is an elegant cast of a circular net. As the fisher starts to pull the lines on the net, the bottom closes.

This local, artisanal fishing is a tradition for which the village is well known, and the fishers were excited that a group of students from the U.S. was so interested.

As we finished our discussion and headed to lunch, we noticed the fishers were starting to come out of their shelters and move toward the water. Then we saw it: A dolphin leapt out of the waves. The fishers rushed out to cast their nets, and we spent the afternoon watching them bring in their catch as two dolphins foraged and pushed the fish near the shore toward the fishers. It was wonderful to see the unique interaction, and it set the tone for the entire trip.

Other places we visited included wildlife rehabilitation centers focused on marine life, sea turtles, penguins and large otters. We learned how teams of biologists visit hundreds of beaches every day looking for sick and injured animals. Avian influenza is a disease that is closely monitored to protect both humans and wildlife.

When we visited an island near the town of Ubatuba in the state of São Paulo, we saw a beach teeming with life as well as human-sourced trash. This area, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, is also affected by plastics and other ocean debris. The trash that washed ashore included brands and languages suggesting it originated far from Brazil; students learned that pollution is not Brazil’s problem alone but rather a global problem.

We learned from veterinarians and biologists that many wildlife species ingest plastic debris and become entangled in marine litter. We also learned about the extensive efforts to care for animals, clean beaches and work with communities to reduce fishing nets and other decommissioned debris in the oceans.

“The visit to Projeto Lontra was very special for me. To meet the interns, staff and animals there was my favorite part of the whole trip,” said Aspen Chance, a graduate student. “As someone who hopes to work at a nonprofit for wildlife one day and recently finished my internship at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center here in Arizona, I felt a closeness to their mission in Brazil.”
Having earned their Bachelor of Science in pre-veterinary medicine and Master of Science in applied biological sciences, Chance said they were uniquely intrigued to learn how the team operated, cared for wildlife and worked with the public.

“The facility veterinarian’s presentation had my undivided attention for the whole time she was speaking,” Chance said. “I hadn’t been as interested in veterinary work in many years and moved onto conservation work, but hearing and seeing the passion this woman had was invigorating. Despite the language barrier you could clearly see what she was trying to communicate before the interpreter even translated.”

Many more lessons followed. Students learned about antivenom (Brazil has four antivenoms and is home to more than 70 venomous snake species). They also learned that Brazil has one of the world’s largest hydropower dams, which provides power to two countries but has also displaced both people and wildlife.

Students visited Iguazu Falls, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, including up close views of native coatis and aracaris. The group also stayed in large cities that are home to urban wildlife, some common, such as rock pigeons, and others unique, such as capybaras.

Brazil provided unmatched access to the world’s rich biodiversity, leading institutions focused on human and animal health, and opportunities to learn from the diverse perspectives of visiting scholars, students, professionals and community members. We can’t wait to return next year.
“Studying abroad expanded my view on what the world had to offer and what I was capable of. I’ve always wanted to travel the world but wasn’t sure if I’d have the opportunity until later in life,” Chance said. “It was an amazing experience that I’ll take with me into both my personal and professional life."

About Heather Bateman, Ph.D.

Bateman is CISA’s associate dean for graduate studies and research and a professor in the college’s School of Applied Sciences and Arts. A field ecologist and conservation biologist, her work centers on how human land use affects vertebrate populations and habitats, especially in ecosystems where water meets land.

Support the global studies program

The College of Integrative Sciences and Arts is passionate about providing students with global studies opportunities. To help make the program even more accessible, we have created the CISA Global Fund. Provide your support to students getting hands-on learning experiences in another country by donating to the fund today.