Bernard Purrier has always held a great interest in Wildlife and Marine mammals with Cetaceans being a particular favourite and he was able to pursue this in 2005 after taking early retirement from a career in Medical Microbiology and Pharmaceuticals

Bernard became a UK speaker for Whale & Dolphin Conservation [WDC] an International Charity in 2006 and since then, he has spoken to wildlife groups all over the UK and abroad. He is increasingly invited to speak to groups and associations, both adult and children. He is also invited to schools to take part in debates and Conservation / Ecology projects.

When not involved in wildlife matters, he spends time on his other interests such as British Roman History and live music.

Whales & Dolphins - An Introduction
Cetaceans – Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises – the largest group of sea based mammals, highly intelligent and at the top of their food chain. This talk will discuss their evolution, their behaviour linked to their advanced intelligence, the ways in which they have adapted to their environment and the increasing threats to their habitats and their ultimate survival.
Find out lots of interesting & amazing facts about these wonderful animals and collect a “Fascinating Fact Sheet” to take away.

Wildlife we could see on this Voyage!
There are sightings of whales and dolphins on the majority of voyages as these animals are ubiquitous to most oceans and seas. This talk will prepare the traveller to spot the cetacean life as we pass through these interesting areas. I will discuss what Cetacean life might be seen on this voyage and I will offer help and tips in how to identify what is being viewed.

Human Interactions with Whales & Dolphins
There are so many ways in which we, as humans, interact with Cetaceans. Some interactions are positive but many are negative, especially for the animals. Should we promote interactions or try to contain them?
Swimming with dolphins is always in the top ten lists of things that people wish to do. What about dolphin assisted therapy, or captivity? Hear about a whole range of interactions, some that are well known – others that one may not have thought of.

The Orca [Killer Whale] - The Sea Wolf.
Find out more about the killer whale. Sometimes called “The Sea Wolf” as they are compared to the Wolf found on land in terms of their tracking and hunting of prey. Orca are the most intelligent and ruthless killers in the seas yet they live in groups and have very strong family bonds where mothers and grandmothers will “babysit” the calves and teach them their behaviour and survival.

Whale & Dolphin Strandings.
Although Cetaceans breathe air, they face extreme danger and death if stranded in shallow water or on beaches for more than twenty four hours. The number of whales and dolphins that get stranded is increasing. This talk will examine some of the theories around strandings and look at ways to halt the increase in their number. We will also see the most effective methods in which to rescue a stranded whale or dolphin.

The Humpback Whale.
This whale is one of the most intriguing. It eats twenty three hours a day in the summer months but not at all during the winters. Its mouth is large enough to catch up to 10,000 sardines at one gulp and it can sing some of the best songs of any animal – from dawn to dusk. See how they hunt in groups and have developed such a sophisticated method to trap their prey. Also hear some of their songs!

Empty Oceans – Empty Nets
Could this be what will happen within the next 50 years? There is a growing worry that there will no longer be fish in the seas unless drastic steps are taken to control the fishing industry. We will look at ways in which we can prevent this from occurring.
Collect a Pocket guide to the sustainable fish that we should be eating.

WRITTEN FOR THE AMAZON AREA:

Devil’s Island – Sharks, Alligators Ants & Piranhas.
Preparation for our “sail -by” later today. This island and its neighbours have a truly gruesome past as a former French Penal Settlement. The natural inhabitants played a large part in restricting the escape attempts!

The Amazon Delta.
This huge unique area has wildlife in plenty to match – Amphibians, Reptiles, Manatees, Fish, Insects and Arachnids [Spiders & Scorpion] The famous Boto [Amazon River Dolphin] and its relative – the Tucuxi.

Macapa, the Rainforest and the Natutama Amazon Project.
Macapa is a city with a population of half a million that literally “sits” on the Equator at the mouth of the Amazon river delta and is surrounded by vast areas that can be best described as “always hot & wet.” Plus some news about a long running Amazon Conservation Project and the beliefs that the tribes hold about the pink dolphins.

WRITTEN FOR ALASKAN CRUISES

Wildlife in Alaska. This talk looks at the diverse and exciting wildlife to be seen in this area. From bears to salmon, eagles, moose and caribou, mountain goats to seals and sea lions. Lots of information and some great pictures too.

A talk related to my work as a guide at the Roman Baths in Bath.
Aquae Sulis, Roman Baths and Bathing Rituals
This talk looks at the arrival of the Romans in the Bath area in AD45. We will look at the settlement which they named Aquae Sulis and see why they created a new Goddess and planned and built the classic Roman Baths and Temple complex. Imagine being a high ranking Roman Citizen visiting the site to worship and perform the Bathing Rituals and see just what that involved. Look at everyday items thrown into the spring as offerings to the Goddess and hear some of the curses that were written by aggrieved Romans.

2011 P&O - Aurora
2012 Fred Olsen - Balmoral
2012 Cunard - Queen Victoria
2013 Fred Olsen - Braemar
2014 Cunard - Queen Elizabeth
2014 Cunard - Queen Victoria
2014 P&O - Aurora
2014 Holland America – ms Ryndam
2015 P&O Arcadia
2015 P&O Britannia
2015 P&O Arcadia
2016 P&O Adonia
2016 P&O Oceana [The Amazon]
2016 P&O Britannia
2017 Saga Sapphire
2017 P&O Oriana [The Amazon]
2017 P&O Britannia
2017 P&O Adonia [The Amazon]
2017 Viking Sky
2018 Viking Sky

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.