Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Mangaratiba • Itacuruçá

INSTITUTO BOTO CINZA – IBC

Embracing praiseworthy causes

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Fishing, hunting, following or capturing cetaceans in Brazilian waters has been prohibited since 1986. IBC is a non-profit NGO founded in 2009 in order to leverage Projeto Boto Cinza actions, on behalf of grey nose dolphins. This task is commendable not only due to this dolphin’s and the marine ecosystem’s protection, but also for the numerous social and environmental activities in benefit of the communities from the Mangaratiba region and surrounding areas.

Long before officially becoming an NGO, in 2001 Projeto Boto Cinza obtained the support of private enterprise and was able to involve the population by means of free activities such as teacher training, presentations in schools and fishing communities, recreational and educational activities, exhibitions and environmental events.

The institute’s headquarters in Itacuruçá are a wonderful place to visit and to participate in the activities provided, such as: library, multi-media facilities, children’s area and an unbelievable museum. There are also lodgings free of charge from one to six months for professionals and students – local and overseas – to develop their studies in biology and correlated subjects. Furthermore, IBC provides the community with vertical vegetable garden workshops, composting, re-use of recyclable material, film sessions on environmental topics and other relevant actions.

The museum is an attraction in itself. Skeletons, photo panels containing important information, Illustrated maps, curiosities on cetaceans and multi-media totems whereby it is possible to hear sounds by dolphins and whales, are some of the means made available for learning more on these fantastic animals and the marine ecosystem’s wealth on the Rio de Janeiro coast.

Research has found that the bay of Sepetiba has one of the largest populations of this kind of dolphin, and groups in excess of 300 individuals may often be seen. Though they are protected under federal legislation, this is an endangered species, and in 2012 a bill was enacted declaring the grey nose dolphin the municipality of Mangaratiba’s natural heritage. One of the actions in IBC’s current project, Abrace o Boto Cinza, is related to community tourism that consists of training fishermen in the region in practical and theoretical lessons, as well as providing special licenses to certify boats that take groups of tourists to watch the dolphins in their natural habitat.

Instituto Boto Cinza is an attraction that deserves full consideration, and visitors will certainly wish to embrace this cause on behalf of these charming animals, besides learning a great deal about the ecosystem.

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