Dr ingrid visser biography book
Ingrid Visser (biologist)
New Zealand marine biologist
Ingrid Natasha Visser (born 20 February 1966) is a New Zealandmarine biologist who studies orcas. She regularly lectures on the subject aboard cruise ships, especially in Antarctica, and has been featured in several documentaries about orcas.
Early life
Visser was born in Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. Her parents were Dutch immigrants who moved to New Zealand in the 1950s. They were both nationalised as New Zealanders after she was born.
Between June 1982 and November 1986, Visser sailed with her parents and sister aboard a 17-metre (56 ft) yacht around the world. The trip covered over 50,000 nautical miles (93,000 km) and visited more than 40 countries.
Education
Visser holds three university degrees: a Bachelor of Science (Massey University), a Masters of Science, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (both the University of Auckland). Visser has been working with orca (Orcinus orca, also known as killer whales) since 1992 and completed her PhD in 2000, the first scientific study of orca in New Zealand waters.
Scientific work
Her research on orca has been published in international scientific journals, since 1998, and many of these publications are available on the Orca Research Trust website.
In 2002 Visser's research was instrumental in the New Zealand Government's reclassification of New Zealand orcas from "Common" in the New Zealand Threat Classification System to "Nationally Critical". This is the equivalent status of "Critically Endangered" in the internationally recognised IUCN Red Data listing.
Publications
She has published numerous popular articles and her photographs have appeared in magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, New Zealand Geographic, and An Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Visser has set up the Orca Research Trust, the Antarctic Killer Whale Iden Meet the woman whose life revolves around orca, or killer whales. This book tells the fascinating story of Dr Ingrid Visser, a marine scientist who has spent the past ten years studying these creatures. During this time she has got to know many New Zealand orca intimately; she calls them her friends and can identify some by sight. Ingrid has a hands-on approach to her study - getting into the water with them, watching them hunt and interacting in any way she can. Ingrid is the only person to work with orca in the South Pacific and has discovered many differences between their behaviour here and in the northern hemisphere. The book is packed with interesting facts about orca in New Zealand and also tells Ingrid's own personal story and the inspiring encounters she has had with these intriguing animals.Swimming with Orca: My Life with New Zealand's Killer Whales
Swimming with Orca: My Life with New Zealand's Killer Whales - Softcover
Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
I’m not sure which question I get asked more often: ‘When did you first become interested in orca?’ or ‘Are you ever afraid when you swim with them?’ As I have loved orca ever since I can remember, I’ve never been afraid of them. Thinking back, it’s hard to say exactly when the fascination became an obsession, but I can remember when I was really young, about six or seven, knowing that one day I wanted to work with whales and dolphins (cetaceans). At that age I was fascinated with all types of animals, but it was cetaceans that really grabbed my attention. I was asked by one of the other kids at school if I wanted to swap a picture of a dolphin, from a magazine, for some of my treasured animal magazines. This little girl turned out to be pretty shrewd, as she managed to achieve a trade-off which saw her obtaining a whole pile of animal magazines, and me with just one dolphin picture. But I was happy, and in fact still have that dolphin picture tucked away somewhere.
Nobby the Orca by Dr. Ingrid Visser & Kate Norton
Proceeds of the purchase of this book will be donated directly to Orca Research Trust, helping to support Dr. Ingrid Visser’s conservation and research efforts world wide.
Summary:
“Nobby the Orca” immerses your child into the true story of Nobby’s stranding, rescue and other adventures. Packed with real-life photographs and a wealth of accurate information, the authors (a qualified educator and a world renowned orca scientist), deliver a fun learning experience for ages 5 years and older.
More than an ordinary book about killer whales, its beautiful design provides a unique combination of fascinating facts and storyline which allows the reader to browse or read from cover to cover.
By engaging children’s brains and their quest for learning, this book will not only help build an animal vocabulary it also provides insight into the life of wild New Zealand orca. This is the perfect book for children who love animals and will help them connect to the modern natural world.
“A charming and fascinating book, just perfect for engaging children in the art of reading and teaching them to protect one of my favorite animals in the sea, orca. Protect the ocean and we protect ourselves.” - Jean-Michel Cousteau