Q&A with Dr. Manuel Castellote: Listening to whales

Q&A with Dr. Manuel Castellote: Listening to Whales

Dr. Manuel Castellote shares his story and experiences studying and listening to whales.

Ever since my childhood growing up in Spain, I’ve been interested in animals.

He recalls a childhood incident where he sat on the roof to observe cats, showcasing his early fascination with animals.

Dr. Castellote's interest in the ocean environment led him to study marine biology and eventually bioacoustics, the study of animal sounds.

He was drawn to whales and dolphins due to their curiosity and the fact that sound is their dominant sense.

For marine mammals, the dominant sense is sound, which makes sense because underwater visibility is often limited.

Sound travels more easily and farther in water because water is denser than air.
In water, the fade of sound is much milder compared to air.

Author's summary: Dr. Manuel Castellote shares his experiences studying whales.

Oceana — 2025-10-15