Local knowledge of dolphins along the Atlantic coast of the Talamanca region of Costa Rica provided the base for the first scientific study of these dolphins in April and May, 1997. Click Here to view the full version of the scientific research paper.  Identification of three species of wild dolphins- tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus)and Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) sparked immediate interest among scientists and dolphin lovers. Until this time, tucuxi dolphins were not known to exist as far north as Costa Rica. Tucuxi (pronounced "too koo shee") are a little-studied species of dolphins found in fresh water of rivers, estuaries and adjacent coastal areas of South America, and, until this, as far north as Panama. The presence of bottlenose dolphins in the same study area, were identified and observed almost daily interacting with the tucuxi. Photo-identification of individual dolphins of both species began. This allowed re-sightings of individual dolphins to be made, and began documentation of population and distribution patterns of the three species. From June – December, 1997, observational and photographic data collection was carried out monthly. A wide variety of dolphin behaviors was observed and recorded. The results of this first study (DiBerardinis, A., Larkin, S. and Schot, V.) were completed in October,1997, with the scientific advice of Dr. Paul Forestell of Southampton College.

In January of 1998, Dr. Paul Forestell and Biology students of Southampton College, New York joined the original investigators in a field study. This study, and subsequent field studies in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, have added considerable data to the Photo-Identification Catalog of individual dolphins, the population and distribution information, and the continuing record of unusual, regular social interspecies behavior between the tucuxi and the bottlenose dolphins in the area. A Poster Presentation was made on early findings at the 13^th Biennial Conference on the biology of Marine Mammals in Hawaii in 1999⁴ (Forestell, Wright, DiBerardinis, Larkin and Schot).

The Talamanca Dolphin Foundation has helped sponsor other international volunteers, scientists and students while continuing to add to its data base of information on the dolphins of Talamamca. Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Guitierrez and Susana Caballero have collaborated with TDF in scientific projects. A scientific article describing the interspecies interactions between the tucuxi and bottlenose has been submitted to a Marine Mammal journal for publication, and will soon be made available to the public. There are presently 65 individually identified tucuxi and bottlenose dolphins in the Photo-Id Catalog.

The continuation of scientific research, is an important goal of the Talamanca Dolphin Foundation, and provides the base and information necessary for its other activities and programs- Education, Protection, Responsible Eco-tourism and Community Involvement. TDF invites active public participation in its research and all its programs. Opportunities are available for interested volunteers and students who would like to help support and participate in one of the Foundation’s research projects. Please e-mail us at the address listed for more information.