Mobile technology has become a fundamental tool for bringing science closer to the public, and the launch of the Fauma app in Spain is a clear example of this. This platform, which can now be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices, aims to allow anyone to actively participate in wildlife conservation without needing to be an expert. The initiative proposes a transparent model where users not only donate funds but can also see firsthand how each animal is progressing.
The official launch of this tool took place in Oropesa del Mar, specifically at the Bellver Blue Tech Zone facilities. To mark the beginning of this initiative, several animals rescued on the Castellón coast were released, including seahorses, a small-spotted catshark, and a loggerhead turtle. This symbolic act represents the application's ultimate goal: to ensure that clinical work at recovery centers culminates in the return of these species to their natural habitat.
Clinical monitoring and live cameras
What sets this initiative apart from other educational projects is the depth of the information shared. Users have access to a medical log constantly updated by biologists and specialists, detailing technical data such as the animal's weight, blood test results, and milestones achieved in its rehabilitation process. This information is complemented by live webcams from the aquariums and centers of the participating foundations, allowing viewers to observe the animals' daily behavior.
In this initial phase, the project has the support of prestigious organizations such as the Oceanogrà fic of Valencia and the Blue Marine Foundation. These institutions not only contribute their infrastructure but also generate exclusive scientific content in video and photographic format to explain the importance of each treatment. In this way, subscribers fully understand what is being done with their contribution and the actual health status of the animal they have chosen to support in its recovery.
Species featured on the platform
The application currently focuses on three species with very different needs. The first is the small-spotted catshark, a small shark that serves as a model organism. Although its situation is not critical, the knowledge gained from its development is vital for protecting other large sharks that are seriously endangered and much more difficult to study in controlled environments.
On the other hand, the loggerhead turtle occupies a prominent place due to its extreme vulnerability. It is estimated that barely one in every thousand hatchlings reaches adulthood , a worrying figure exacerbated by the effects of climate change on nesting beaches. Finally, the gentoo penguin acts as a sentinel of the Antarctic ecosystem; although its populations are stable, monitoring its health allows scientists to detect drastic changes in the polar environment that could affect other, much more threatened penguin species.
To support this technical and scientific endeavor, three annual subscription levels have been established: Friend, Brother, and Hero. The money raised goes directly to funding the conservation projects of the collaborating organizations. In addition, users receive merchandise that adheres to a strict environmental policy: clothing is made from organic cotton, drastically reducing the carbon footprint, while accessories are created using 3D printing with recycled and biodegradable filaments.
The development of this platform represents a new channel of communication between research centers and civil society, fostering a community that celebrates every medical advance for animals. By combining access to real data with direct observation, conservation ceases to be an abstract concept and becomes a participatory and transparent experience that anyone can carry in their pocket.