Image of a whale swimming underwater

GENTLE GIANT: Blue whales can grow to be up to 98 feet long.

GABRIEL BARATHIEU/BIOSPHOTO

Whale Guardian

Asha de Vos is making a splash studying the largest animals on Earth

ASHA DE VOS

SCOOPED FROM THE SEA: De Vos holds a sample of plankton collected off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The first time Asha de Vos saw a blue whale, she was a recent college graduate conducting research on a ship in the Indian Ocean, near her home country of Sri Lanka. In the distance, she spotted a spray of mist being released from a whale’s blowhole at the top of its head as it exhaled. It turned out to be not one but six blue whales—each almost the length of a basketball court! The encounter kick-started de Vos’s career studying these majestic, endangered giants—the most massive animals thought to have ever lived on Earth (although a fossil whale discovered last year may challenge that title).

Today de Vos is a marine biologist leading the longest-running project studying the behavior and distribution of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. She’s also the founder of Oceanswell, Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation organization. Science World caught up with de Vos to learn about her work.

How did you become interested in marine biology?

Sri Lanka, where I come from, is a beautiful tropical island. When I was growing up, Sri Lankans viewed the ocean mainly as a place to fish. So as a teen, when I said I wanted to be a marine biologist and study ocean life, people were confused. Every day I passed the ocean on the way to school. I knew there was magic happening in it, and I wanted to know what it was.

STEVE DE NEEF

SOUNDS FROM THE DEEP: De Vos uses an underwater device to listen for the calls of whales and dolphins.

What is it like to study blue whales?

Tracking them down is like finding needles in a haystack. The ocean covers 70 percent of our planet. When I’m working from a boat, I can see only a tiny part of it. A biologist on land can find clues like tracks to tell them that an animal is in the area. But in the ocean, you know an animal is present only when you see it. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Whenever I see a blue whale, I remember that I have the privilege of being beside the largest animal that has ever roamed the planet.

What role do whales play in the ocean?

Whales are very important. When they poop, they release nutrients like iron and nitrogen into the water. Tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton that float on the surface of the ocean use these nutrients and sunlight to make food. During this process, they release oxygen. At least 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by plankton—sometimes with help from whale poop!

Whales are important even after their death. After a whale dies, its body sinks. As it drifts down to the seafloor, it provides food for many species. For deep-dwelling organisms, it’s like a gift from above.

You’ve expressed that researchers who travel to study organisms and ecosystems should partner with local scientists. Why is that important?

ASHA DE VOS

BIG-HEARTED: De Vos next to a preserved blue whale heart

When scientists travel to less-developed countries to conduct research, they often don’t invest in or work with the local science community. They drop in, do work, and then leave. This is sometimes called “parachute science.” But local experts have a lot of knowledge about conservation issues that impact their lives, as well as solutions. Including them is important.

Seventy percent of ocean coastlines are in the developing world, but scientific representation from these parts of the world is small. That’s another reason it’s important to have local scientists involved in decision-making for conservation and research. In my own research and my work through Oceanswell, I try to give opportunities to young South Asians in the hopes of fostering the next generation of marine scientists. Every coastline needs a local hero.

What would you say to teens who want to become marine biologists?

Don’t underestimate your ability to make a difference. To protect the largest part of our planet—the ocean— we need the largest team. Your unique strengths and voice are a part of it.

RYAN LASH

UNDER THE SEA: De Vos visits a coral reef in the Pacific Ocean.

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