TRACKING down Dr Louisa Shobhini Ponnampalam is much like spotting a rare marine mammal along our coastline — a fleeting glimpse of her before she disappears into the vast blue. She emerges every now and then, only to dive back into what she loves most — riding the waves, scanning the horizon for dolphins, whales and other sea creatures.
For two years, we'd been in intermittent contact, but meeting her in person always seemed just out of reach. Whenever I visit a place, I'd learn that Louisa has "just" been there, having finished her work mere days before my arrival.
Then, as soon as I think we might finally connect, she vanishes on another of her adventurous trips. It feels like trying to spot something incredibly elusive, which requires patience, persistent messages and a lot of crossed fingers, hoping that one day, luck would be on my side and our paths will finally cross.
As she breezed into the cafe a few minutes earlier, her flyaway hair, turquoise earrings and sun-tanned skin made her look as though the waves had carried her in. It felt like I was finally catching a glimpse of an elusive marine mammal emerging from the depths. When I mention this to her, she throws her head back and laughs heartily.
It's impossible not to associate the woman sitting before me with marine mammals, given her lifelong dedication to these creatures. Louisa, along with fellow researcher Fairul Izmal Jamal Hisne, co-founded MareCet in 2012, Malaysia's first and only non-profit non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on the research and conservation of marine mammals.
MareCet (pronounced ma-rei-set) is derived from mare, the Latin word for ocean, and cetacean, the scientific term for whales, dolphins and porpoises, reflecting the organisation's dual focus on both the ocean and marine mammals.
Led by Louisa and supported by a small, passionate team of researcher-conservationists, MareCet aims to expand scientific understanding through research, promote conservation through outreach and education, strengthen policy frameworks and build capacity in the field.
The NGO is dedicated to protecting marine mammals and their fragile habitats, nurturing local conservation leadership, working with stakeholders for optimal conservation outcomes and fostering a sense of ocean stewardship throughout Malaysian society.
For Louisa, it's a childhood dream realised.
CHILDHOOD AMBITIONS
Softly, she recalls: "I remember standing at the edge of the South China Sea, my toes sinking into the soft sand as the waves lapped around them. I must have been about 8 or 9, but even then, I knew — I didn't want a regular job when I grew up."
The pull of the ocean was irresistible for the young girl from Petaling Jaya.
At just 10 years old, her mother handed her a newspaper clipping that would shape her dreams. The image featured a diver gliding effortlessly above a massive table coral, with the caption explaining that the marine biologist was inspecting the reef below. Her eyes lit up as she studied the photograph.
Without hesitation, Louisa turned to her mother and excitedly declared: "That's what I want to do! I want to be a marine biologist!" From that moment on, the mysteries of the ocean captivated her, and she knew her future lay beneath the waves, exploring the vibrant, hidden world of the sea.
"They called me the dolphin girl," she says, smiling wryly, adding: "At some point, my dolphin obsession took over my life. While other teenagers were hanging posters of rock stars and actors, my walls were covered in pictures of dolphins!"
She laughs, recalling how her wardrobe was filled with dolphin-themed t-shirts, earrings and trinkets. "I had dolphins everywhere. It was an obsession I couldn't explain. I even kept a scrapbook filled with articles about anything related to the sea — clownfish, dolphins, coral reefs, sea turtles, you name it." She pauses momentarily before adding wistfully: "I dreamt of being that cool scientist on a boat, camera in hand, photographing all those incredible sea creatures."
One of the most defining moments of her childhood was stumbling upon a bank advertisement about plastic pollution, showing a hapless turtle ingesting a plastic bag. She recalls: "I remember being deeply disturbed by it. I already had this obsession with dolphins, so I felt like I had to do something. I really believed I could save the world!"
"You wanted to save the planet?" I repeat incredulously.
"Yes, exactly!" she replies, adding: "Back then, it felt so simple. It's only when you grow up that you realise what a huge task that is!"
Her fascination with dolphins only grew stronger over time, rather than fading away like most teenage obsessions. "It got me wondering whether Malaysia had marine mammals. Did we have dolphins, whales and all these other creatures I was so captivated by? And could I actually do something to protect the ocean?"
At the time, the Internet was still at its infancy, so information was scarce. "Most of the data was probably buried in some research papers on a dusty shelf somewhere," she says wryly.
But that didn't deter her. Instead, she realised that this gap in knowledge might just be an opportunity for the scientist she dreamt of becoming. "I wanted to be a dolphin scientist. I decided I'd go overseas, learn as much as I could, then return to Malaysia and start my own institution. I even had a name for it — The Samudra Institute!"
It wasn't enough to just dream about it.
Driven by her determination, Louisa scoured for universities that fit both her passion and budget. She eventually landed on the University of Hawaii at Hilo, which offered the marine biology programme she'd been dreaming of.
While her classmates were immersed in SPM preparations, Louisa was busy chasing down her teachers for recommendation letters and application forms. "Why Hawaii?" she poses, before continuing with a chuckle: "I think Baywatch and Hawaii Five-O might have had something to do with it!"
Though Louisa's parents were fully supportive of her determination to carve her own path, there were sceptics among family friends who lamented her choice. They couldn't understand why someone with such excellent results wasn't following a more traditional route like medicine or law.
Recalls Louisa: "I was ridiculed and told I'd have no job opportunities when I came back to Malaysia. I mean, were there even dolphins for me to study? I was asked, 'Why not pick something that would come with better pay?'"
Continuing, she admits: "Of course, I was upset, but having my parents' support made all the difference. I chose to follow my dreams!"
HARD WORK
At 17, Louisa arrived in Hawaii with her ever-supportive father, only to have her illusions shattered almost immediately. She quickly realised that the island was far more remote than she'd imagined — and it rained nearly every day.
"It hit me. I was now thousands of miles from home, in a foreign country with a completely different culture, in what felt like a deserted town. Everything was unfamiliar, and I was just a naive teenager from Malaysia with crazy dreams. Had I made a mistake? Did I take this dream too far?" she reflects.
Louisa knew she had to prove herself. Her time at the university was marked by hard work and determination, and though it took some time, she eventually found her rhythm.
"Life as a student at UH-Hilo turned out to be wonderful, and Hilo itself grew on me," she says. It wasn't until a beautiful morning kayak in 2001 at Kealakekua Bay, on the island's lee side, that she saw her first live, wild dolphins. "They were spinner dolphins — the very species I'd go on to study for my PhD."
After graduating, Louisa's big break came in 2004 when she secured the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for a postgraduate position at the University Marine Biological Station in Millport, Scotland.
This opportunity led her to study the ecology of small cetaceans, particularly spinner dolphins, in the Sultanate of Oman. "I'd never even heard of Oman before this!" she admits.
Oman's waters, home to over 20 species of cetaceans, including four species of great whales out of more than 80 worldwide, became her classroom. Reflecting on the experience, Louisa says: "To this day, I'm still grateful. The majestic waters of Oman are where I've encountered the most cetacean species in my entire life!"
As a PhD student, she faced tough challenges, often working alone and without much academic support. She admits there were moments when she broke down, questioning whether to continue.
But her father's words kept her going: "You can quit, but what will become of your dream?" This reminder pushed her to persevere and work even harder. In 2008, at the age of 26, Louisa officially completed her PhD. The "dolphin girl" was finally an official dolphin researcher.
Louisa's journey has been anything but smooth. Armed with a PhD, she returned home to Malaysia and aspired to collaborate with government agencies to contribute to nation-building.
With no connections and few contacts in the marine science community, Louisa took matters into her own hands. She began writing letters of introduction, expressing her passion and offering her expertise, but often found herself excluded from crucial discussions.
Undeterred, she kept knocking on doors, determined to make herself heard. Even when she managed to get into meetings, she faced resistance — often due to her gender. But Louisa pressed on, securing research grants and pushing forward, ignoring the naysayers at every turn.
The tenacious marine scientist eventually decided to set up MareCet with Fairul, whom she first crossed paths with while they were both applying for the same position at an environmental NGO.
Their shared passion for marine conservation drove them to establish their own organisation, focusing on research at a time when marine conservation was still in its infancy in Malaysia.
Chuckling, Louisa recalls: "We didn't even have enough money to open MareCet's bank account in the early days! We had to organise a garage sale just to raise the funds."
She continues wryly: "MareCet was born out of both passion and frustration. It was frustrating not being able to do the work I envisioned, so I thought why not create something where we could do conservation our way?"
What began as a little-known NGO has since flourished, gaining momentum, especially after Louisa received the prestigious 2014 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. That recognition propelled MareCet into the spotlight, and from that moment on there was no turning back.
Fast forward to 2024, and MareCet is now 12 years old. "We have 11 full-time staff, including myself. All those tasks I used to handle alone — prepping, washing down, downloading data — I don't do anymore. My role has definitely changed!" she laughs.
"We have one male staff member who's a research assistant, but apart from Fairul handling the back-end, the rest of us are women," she shares, adding: "I'm really proud — it's girl power in full swing!"
Continuing, she says: "But it's not about gender bias; it just so happens that most of our applicants are women. I always remind the young women on my team that nothing comes easy, but we have the opportunity to create something meaningful — and the sky's the limit!"
Louisa recently took her passion for marine conservation a step further by authoring a children's book titled Mummy, Where Are My Dorsal Fins? The story takes young readers on an exciting adventure, inspired by MareCet's decade-long work in marine mammal research and conservation. "Raising awareness among young children is crucial," says the 41-year-old, adding that the book is designed to inspire the next generation to care for marine life.
"It's about nurturing future conservationists. We're fortunate to mentor many passionate young people," she enthuses, adding: "MareCet has never been driven by personal gain, but by a simple dream — to fill the gap in marine knowledge in Malaysia, provide sound advice for government policies and offer a platform for Malaysians to experience this vital work."
It's hard work — frustrating and often uphill — but even as Louisa tirelessly champions the conservation of whales, dolphins and other cetaceans, she's constantly reminded that a young girl's dream of saving the world can indeed come true.
Over the years, her marine mammal research work has expanded beyond Malaysia, reaching Thailand, Vietnam and even Myanmar, broadening the impact of her efforts to protect these incredible creatures across Southeast Asia.
With big dreams still guiding her, the "dolphin girl" knows her journey is far from over. There's always more to discover, protect and inspire. The ocean, after all, is where her heart truly belongs.
To learn more about MareCet, visit www.marecet.org.