The Biosphere Reserve has opened an exhibition on Macaronesian cetaceans in the Arrivals terminal of Fuerteventura Airport, featuring life-sized inflatable replicas of some of the most characteristic marine species found in Canary Island waters.
These include a 17-metre sperm whale, an orca, a Cuvier’s beaked whale, a Blainville’s beaked whale, a short-finned pilot whale, a bottlenose dolphin, and a common dolphin.
This exhibition, organised in collaboration with the Loro Parque Foundation, aims to raise awareness of the rich diversity of whales and dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean and to promote marine conservation efforts in Macaronesia, and to garner support for the creation of a Marine Biodiversity Sanctuary in the Canary Islands.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Councillor for Tourism, Biosphere Reserve, and Blue Economy of the Fuerteventura Council, Marlene Figueroa; the Director of Fuerteventura Airport, Luis Sáez Avilés; and the Manager of the Biosphere Reserve, Toni Gallardo. Representatives from the Loro Parque Foundation and La Caixa Foundation, which support this travelling exhibition across the archipelago, were also present.
Marlene Figueroa emphasized that such educational initiatives align with the Blue Economy strategy being developed in Fuerteventura to foster awareness and appreciation of the region’s rich marine biodiversity. She said that showcasing life-sized whale and dolphin replicas in such a unique setting as the airport terminal serves as a powerful reminder to both locals and visitors of the importance of marine conservation.
Ricardo Fernández de la Puente, Director of Institutional Relations at Loro Parque Group, added that the initiative has been very well received, particularly by schools across the archipelago. More than 8,000 students and teachers have visited the exhibition so far.
The Canary Islands are located in a subtropical region of the Atlantic Ocean, where unique oceanographic and bathymetric conditions support a high diversity of cetacean species. The archipelago is considered one of the world's biodiversity hotspots for marine mammals, with up to 30 species identified to date.
