Whale Tagger Nan Hauser Makes a Big “My Hero” Splash

December 9, 2013

Nan Hauser, the intrepid whale tagger who works in the Cook Islands, recently had her work documented by Peter Stonier the Conservation International filmmaker for the My Hero International Film Festival. The video — available for viewing here — was selected as for first place in the “Series” category, underscoring public interest and support of whale protection efforts.

Nan Hauser, President and Director of the Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation, is based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, where she is the Principal Investigator for the Cook Islands Whale Research Project and Director of the Cook Islands Whale & Wildlife Centre. Nan’s research includes population identity, Photo ID, acoustics, genetics, surface & underwater behaviour, navigation and migration of cetaceans. Her satellite tag work includes results on how whales migrate over long distances using linear constant course segments.

Nan’s passion and life’s work was recently spotlighted in a 60 Minutes segment about Humpback Whales. Check it out below!

On the Marine Protected Area front, Nan was a key player in the creation of a 2 million square kilometer whale sanctuary in the E.E.Z. of the Cook Islands — way to go! — and currently serves as a Trustee for the Cook Islands Marine Park. Nan has been the subject of many Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Smithsonian films. She also holds a US Coastguard 100 tonne Captain’s license.