Biological Bricolage and Charismatic Creatures: Encountering Northern Right Whale Dolphins on the New Whale-Road

Abstract

This research project focuses on human-animal interactions during trips with Monterey Bay Whale Watch in Monterey Bay, California. Specifically, my research focuses on the northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) because these dolphins are atypical in appearance and challenge whale watchers’ preconceived ideas of what dolphins look like and how they act, which makes for interesting interactions between the dolphins and the viewing groups aboard. The present work presents knowledge and information on the whale watching experience, which was uncovered through interviews conducted with whale watching operators between fall of 2019 and spring of 2022. In compiling these interviews, I identified a distinct gap present in my research: no actual observations of Northern right whale dolphins in previous fieldwork. This thesis research can add to the existing literature by pairing observations with discourse on the subject. It should be considered a case study for an overarching research project interested in creating a holistic understanding of whale watching in California. This research invites further inquiry into wildlife charisma and its role in wildlife conservation and sets the stage for a deeper dive into the concepts of zoocialization and multispecies ethnography.