Kamilla Souza is ready to examine the brain of a beached whale.
Instituto Baleia Jubarte

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Instituto Baleia Jubarte

Approximately a year and a half ago, neuroscientist Kamilla Souza received an exciting call. A young humpback whale had been found stranded off the southeastern coast of Brazil; unfortunately, it had perished, and she was keen to study its brain.

The scientist, who is also the founder and director of the Brazilian Neurobiodiversity Network, compared the scenario to “Alice in Wonderland,” joking about wanting the “head!”

Desde childhood, Souza harbored a deep fascination for the brains of marine mammals. Despite the little known about the neural structures of cetaceans in Central and South American waters, she believes examining these brains can reveal insights into their behavior and adaptations to life underwater.

Upon arrival at the scene with her colleagues from the Instituto Baleia Jubarte, they discovered the whale had washed ashore on a small island, presenting a unique challenge as they couldn’t get too close to avoid running aground.

“You assess the situation and think, ‘I need that brain. I’ll get it no matter what,’” she recounted. “There was no time for hesitation; action was required.”

With her surgical tools in hand, she swam ashore, soaked but determined. She successfully retrieved the fresh, intact brain from the deceased whale, feeling an immense sense of achievement.

“This was the first time a whale brain was extracted in Brazil,” she proudly stated.

Kamilla Souza and a colleague prepare to analyze the brain of a beached whale.
Instituto Baleia Jubarte

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Instituto Baleia Jubarte

After extracting the brain, Souza carefully transported it back to her laboratory, where it became part of her extensive collection — reportedly one of the most significant collections of cetacean brains across Latin America.

A stranded dolphin is brought to the Orca Institute to assist with research efforts.
Ari Daniel

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Ari Daniel

A race against time

Inside the necropsy room, veterinarians sharpen their instruments in preparation to dissect another dolphin that was recently stranded. A series of organs are laid out for analysis — the heart, a kidney, the uterus.

As Souza examines the skull, she notes the absence of a brain; it has essentially liquefied due to rapid decomposition.

In Brazil’s warm climate, bodily decay occurs swiftly, making timing critical. Occasionally, Souza must perform brain extractions from recently deceased creatures directly on the beach. “We have to contend with environmental factors and passersby,” she chuckles. “Sometimes it even rains.”

According to Daniela Teles, a veterinarian at the Orca Institute, Souza’s diligence is impressive: “Kamilla has an incredible talent for uncovering the treasures hidden within the flesh and remains. Her ability to locate and study the brain is extraordinary.”

Kamilla Souza displays her collection of whale and dolphin brains at the Orca Institute in Brazil.

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A fridge filled with brains

Souza reveals a typical refrigerator in her office, showcasing an impressive range of specimens. Among them is a brain from a pygmy sperm whale and several dolphin species. When she retrieves the largest brain, it is from the baby humpback whale she once swam ashore to examine, remarkably weighing twice that of a human brain.

“This brain is enormous,” Souza states with enthusiasm. “It requires both hands to lift.”

Before her lies the intricate essence of a humpback whale, the organ responsible for its ability to swim, sing, and much more.

Thanks to her international background, access to lesser-known species, and her remarkable achievements, Souza acknowledges she could easily find work abroad, yet she chooses to remain in Brazil. “I’m here because I want to be,” she asserts. “I aim to conduct this type of research right here. My goal is to explore as much of the Brazilian coast as possible, inspiring fellow Brazilians to explore new avenues and innovate within the field.”

Her Ph.D. student, Heitor Mynssen, is equally committed to creating a computer program that models various cetacean brains in 3D. He echoes her sentiments: “We don’t always have to lean on other nations. We can achieve remarkable scientific advancements on our own.” He sees being a scientist in Brazil as intrinsic to his identity.

João Marcelo Ramos Nogueira, the executive director of the Orca Institute, is thrilled to have Souza on board. “Kamilla brings new possibilities for expanding our research and analyses,” he declares.

As Souza gazes out at the sea, reflecting on her career trajectory, she concludes, “I believe I made the right choices, as I find immense joy in my work and the contributions I’m making for my country and myself as a researcher.”

She is confident that her younger self would be proud of her current accomplishments.