We are excited to provide you the first of our monthly newsletters providing updates on projects and events on Tetiaroa. As you will note below, the whales are back (don't miss the video!) and our conservation and education programs are in full swing.
And this month we are especially excited and thankful to have a new boat to assist with research projects as a result of a generous donation from the Ludwick Family Foundation.
We hope our newsletters provide you a welcome break during your busy days.
Best regards,
Stan Rowland, President
stanrowland@tetiaroasociety.org

On June 28th we had our first humpback whale sightings off Motu Aie on the east side of Tetiaroa.  Every year, these cetaceans evoke a mix of feelings among Polynesians, varying from excitement to fear; from insignificance, in the presence of giants, to a sense of privilege to be before such beauty. These southern humpbacks are highly revered in Polynesian myths and legends and throughout Polynesia today.  Despite their phenomenal strength, they are peaceful animals and only prey on a microscopic crustaceans called krill.

Tetiaroa Society receives generous support from The Brando for our core operations, but our ability to carry out innovative programs depends on your help -- any amount is appreciated!

Tetiaroa Society offers a variety of amazing nature and culture tours for guests of The Brando resort. If you are visiting The Brando during July to November, when Humpback whales are migrating through French Polynesia, our Whale Watching Tour is a must. Watching these majestic creatures in the natural habitat is among the most exciting and memorable experiences you can have.

If you want to get a sense of this experience, check out the video below of a recent guest experience with a whale which was taken by our head guide Aeata Richerd.

Aeata said that the mother and calf were very calm, which allowed the guests to get into the water with her. The calf was very friendly and swam towards them, and a male sang in the background non-stop for 14 minutes!

Tetiaroa Society is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID #45-1080688). We host scientific research, develop and implement conservation and education programs, and curate the island's knowledge base. We partner with The Brando to establish Tetiaroa as a model for sustainability, where businesses, non-profits, scientists, educators and the local community work together for common goals. Our program objectives are summarized in our Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan, which is available on our website.