Report: Branch Talk on Marine Mammals of Malaysia by Dr Louisa Ponnampalam

Text:  MNS Member Manju Hariharan
Photos: Wong Ee Lynn

Over the weekend at the MNS Selangor Branch AGM, I had the opportunity to listen to 𝐃𝐫. 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 on Marine Mammals of Malaysia. She spoke only for 30 minutes.
It changed the way I view our oceans forever.

She co-founded 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐂𝐞𝐭, the only NGO in the country solely dedicated to research and conservation of marine mammals.

No flashy campaigns. Just real science, real data, and relentless passion.

She and her team study and follow dolphins, whales, and porpoises near the waters of Malaysia. Her passion, knowledge, and relentless dedication to protecting our oceans left me deeply moved.

I’m seriously considering joining one of their marine excursions to learn more. 

As a bonus, I picked up a copy of her children’s book: 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲, 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧? 

It’s part encyclopedia, part storybook, and one of the most thoughtful ways I’ve seen to teach ocean conservation to kids.

It reminded me: 

We cannot conserve what we do not appreciate. And we shall never know until someone tells the story.

If you care about our oceans or raising a future marine biologist, check out her work here: https://www.marecet.org/

First published at:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/manjuhariharan_marineconservation-oceanlove-womeninscience-activity-7356888958057828352-VKnO?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAeHIVEBFZ5nheDi8kWrWsCkrut8SKlpDDMc

Reproduced with permission.