Animals housed in professional care that voluntarily participate in scientific studies provide vital information to help in the conservation of wild animals.
In this OneMinuteOcean episode, Nicole West (a Marine Mammal Specialist at Dolphin Quest), explains how their close trust relationship with bottlenose dolphins allows studies that improve knowledge about how the lungs of marine mammals are adapted to allow them to reach great depths while diving for food.
Researchers at Global Diving Research have collaborated with Dolphin Quest to collect data that will help scientists understand the respiratory limitations in this species, for example how the lung function could be affected in stranded dolphins.
This kind of study is possible thanks to welfare and trust-based relationship between the animal care personnel and the animals.