Is it ever okay to swim with wild dolphins?
Few people on earth inspire us to stand up for nature like David Attenborough. The message from his new feature film, Ocean, is clear: the most important place for life on Earth is the sea.
Many of us feel the pull to travel the world and experience these awe-inspiring marine ecosystems for ourselves. But knowing whether the choices you make are harming or helping the wildlife you are there to spot can be hard.
Here, experts explain how to ensure your next holiday helps protect our precious marine habitats.
You can, says Sophie Lewis, CEO of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), but don't underestimate the potential impacts and challenges of doing so.
'We have to remember that getting in the water with wild cetaceans (the collective term for whales and dolphins) can disturb really biologically important activities like feeding, nursing or resting,' she explains.
If you choose to swim, you'll need to check it's legal in the location you are doing it in and be confident using a snorkel in deep, open water. Choose an operator that openly publishes the guidelines they follow to ensure the animals have control over the interaction and to keep you safe. These include making sure swimmers stay calm and still, not getting in front of the animals' direction of travel and being willing to back out of an experience if it's not suitable.
Ultimately, she says, consider whether it's worth getting into the water in the first place. 'It shouldn't be underestimated what a special experience it is seeing these animals from a boat.'
Researching before you book is key, says Lewis. Look for trips that stay at least 100 metres away from whales and 50 metres away from dolphins. There should also be limits on time spent with the animals and on the number of boats present.
Lewis adds that 'being a responsible operator isn't just about best practice on the water, it's about positively contributing beyond that to the local environment and to local communities.'
Look for locally-owned tour operators which support marine conservation projectsand those certified by the WCA or another marine wildlife organisation.
A great place to start is the WCA's designated Whale Heritage Areas - communities committed to raising the standards of whale tourism, protecting ocean habitats, and celebrating their shared marine cultural heritage.
In places like Madeira, the Azores and Tenerife, you can expect to find tour operators passionate about conservation governed by strict animal welfare regulations, as well as events or museums dedicated to the history of whales in the region.
An eight-day holiday in the Azores withResponsible Travel, including up to five whale watching trips run by a marine wildlife specialist, costs from £835pp excluding flights.
'Responsible tourism is about finding a balance where the benefits can outweigh any negative impacts,' Lewis asserts.
According to UK environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage, over 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year. Leave a smaller plastic footprint trip by holidaying in one of their designated 'Plastic-free Communities' – places with a shared commitment to reduce single-use plastics.
Take home your litter (and any other litter you find), but leave natural souvenirs on the beach. 'As tempting as it is to pick up shells or coral, they're all vital parts of the ecosystem,' advises Lewis. 'It might seem like a small thing to you, but when you have hundreds of thousands of tourists every year taking one small thing, it adds up.'
Anthony Saner is Director at NGOReef Conservation International, a charity working to protect the Belize Barrier Reef. He strongly encourages the use of reef-safe suncreams. 'Chemicals in sunscreen (most notably oxybenzone and octinoxate) kill developing coral, increase the bleaching of coral and damage the developing polyps.' And with 14,000 tonnesof suncream sliding off bodies into the sea each year, every squirt counts.
Saner cautions that beach resorts can be devastating for beach ecosystems. So, before you book, find out how your hotel supports marine conservation and local communities, and what it does with its waste.
In the wild, orcas can swim up to 225 kilometres a day, in social groups with complex languages and cultures. Captivity causes distress.
'Whales and dolphins can suffer from chronic stress from these restrictive spaces and artificial environments…and sadly this can lead to illness, aggressive or self-harming behaviour, and an early death compared to a natural lifespan', says Lewis.
She recommends that anyone who cares about whales or dolphins should avoid visiting a marine park and instead try to see them in the wild with a responsible tour operator.
Hit the beaches of Kefalonia or Zakynthos in Greece, Dalyan in Turkey or North Cyprus this summer, and you'll likely share space with nesting sea turtles.
Observing them can be profound and educational, but their nesting process is very sensitive to disturbance. Visit with an experienced guide, steer clear of marked nests, avoid driving on the beach and don't touch hatchlings to make sure you aren't having a negative impact.
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, offers 45-minute beach walks at a number of nesting sites, including the popular Cretan beaches of Chania and Rethymno. You'll learn more about the turtles, their nesting behaviours and how to coexist with them responsibly.
A record number of us chose to go on a cruise in 2024, but with issues ranging from whale strikes and water pollution to overtourism, these big ships' environmental and social records are pretty grim.
According to theInternational Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), cruise ships emit more CO2 per passenger kilometre than flying and in 2022, the 218 cruise ships operating in Europe produced more sulphur oxides (a gas that harms tree growth and causes acid rain) than1 billion cars.
If you want to explore on the water, look for small ships or expedition cruises that work to protect the marine environments they visit, use local guides and source food and drink locally.
'Our conservation work is funded solely through environmentally minded eco-volunteers. Without their help and funding, ReefCI would not be possible', says Saner.
While Saner's guests volunteer for a week or more at a time, volunteering doesn't have to be the focus of your entire trip. You could join a local beach clean or take part in an ongoing citizen science project while on a whale watching boat trip.
'Researchers often don't have the funds to get out on the water every day,' Lewis explains, 'but these operators can contribute really valuable data, not only on populations but on the impacts tourists are having on those animals.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
18-05-2025
- Euronews
Is it ever okay to swim with wild dolphins?
Sarah Faith is a senior values writer at activist travel company, Responsible Travel. Few people on earth inspire us to stand up for nature like David Attenborough. The message from his new feature film, Ocean, is clear: the most important place for life on Earth is the sea. Many of us feel the pull to travel the world and experience these awe-inspiring marine ecosystems for ourselves. But knowing whether the choices you make are harming or helping the wildlife you are there to spot can be hard. Here, experts explain how to ensure your next holiday helps protect our precious marine habitats. You can, says Sophie Lewis, CEO of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), but don't underestimate the potential impacts and challenges of doing so. 'We have to remember that getting in the water with wild cetaceans (the collective term for whales and dolphins) can disturb really biologically important activities like feeding, nursing or resting,' she explains. If you choose to swim, you'll need to check it's legal in the location you are doing it in and be confident using a snorkel in deep, open water. Choose an operator that openly publishes the guidelines they follow to ensure the animals have control over the interaction and to keep you safe. These include making sure swimmers stay calm and still, not getting in front of the animals' direction of travel and being willing to back out of an experience if it's not suitable. Ultimately, she says, consider whether it's worth getting into the water in the first place. 'It shouldn't be underestimated what a special experience it is seeing these animals from a boat.' Researching before you book is key, says Lewis. Look for trips that stay at least 100 metres away from whales and 50 metres away from dolphins. There should also be limits on time spent with the animals and on the number of boats present. Lewis adds that 'being a responsible operator isn't just about best practice on the water, it's about positively contributing beyond that to the local environment and to local communities.' Look for locally-owned tour operators which support marine conservation projectsand those certified by the WCA or another marine wildlife organisation. A great place to start is the WCA's designated Whale Heritage Areas - communities committed to raising the standards of whale tourism, protecting ocean habitats, and celebrating their shared marine cultural heritage. In places like Madeira, the Azores and Tenerife, you can expect to find tour operators passionate about conservation governed by strict animal welfare regulations, as well as events or museums dedicated to the history of whales in the region. An eight-day holiday in the Azores withResponsible Travel, including up to five whale watching trips run by a marine wildlife specialist, costs from £835pp excluding flights. 'Responsible tourism is about finding a balance where the benefits can outweigh any negative impacts,' Lewis asserts. According to UK environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage, over 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year. Leave a smaller plastic footprint trip by holidaying in one of their designated 'Plastic-free Communities' – places with a shared commitment to reduce single-use plastics. Take home your litter (and any other litter you find), but leave natural souvenirs on the beach. 'As tempting as it is to pick up shells or coral, they're all vital parts of the ecosystem,' advises Lewis. 'It might seem like a small thing to you, but when you have hundreds of thousands of tourists every year taking one small thing, it adds up.' Anthony Saner is Director at NGOReef Conservation International, a charity working to protect the Belize Barrier Reef. He strongly encourages the use of reef-safe suncreams. 'Chemicals in sunscreen (most notably oxybenzone and octinoxate) kill developing coral, increase the bleaching of coral and damage the developing polyps.' And with 14,000 tonnesof suncream sliding off bodies into the sea each year, every squirt counts. Saner cautions that beach resorts can be devastating for beach ecosystems. So, before you book, find out how your hotel supports marine conservation and local communities, and what it does with its waste. In the wild, orcas can swim up to 225 kilometres a day, in social groups with complex languages and cultures. Captivity causes distress. 'Whales and dolphins can suffer from chronic stress from these restrictive spaces and artificial environments…and sadly this can lead to illness, aggressive or self-harming behaviour, and an early death compared to a natural lifespan', says Lewis. She recommends that anyone who cares about whales or dolphins should avoid visiting a marine park and instead try to see them in the wild with a responsible tour operator. Hit the beaches of Kefalonia or Zakynthos in Greece, Dalyan in Turkey or North Cyprus this summer, and you'll likely share space with nesting sea turtles. Observing them can be profound and educational, but their nesting process is very sensitive to disturbance. Visit with an experienced guide, steer clear of marked nests, avoid driving on the beach and don't touch hatchlings to make sure you aren't having a negative impact. ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, offers 45-minute beach walks at a number of nesting sites, including the popular Cretan beaches of Chania and Rethymno. You'll learn more about the turtles, their nesting behaviours and how to coexist with them responsibly. A record number of us chose to go on a cruise in 2024, but with issues ranging from whale strikes and water pollution to overtourism, these big ships' environmental and social records are pretty grim. According to theInternational Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), cruise ships emit more CO2 per passenger kilometre than flying and in 2022, the 218 cruise ships operating in Europe produced more sulphur oxides (a gas that harms tree growth and causes acid rain) than1 billion cars. If you want to explore on the water, look for small ships or expedition cruises that work to protect the marine environments they visit, use local guides and source food and drink locally. 'Our conservation work is funded solely through environmentally minded eco-volunteers. Without their help and funding, ReefCI would not be possible', says Saner. While Saner's guests volunteer for a week or more at a time, volunteering doesn't have to be the focus of your entire trip. You could join a local beach clean or take part in an ongoing citizen science project while on a whale watching boat trip. 'Researchers often don't have the funds to get out on the water every day,' Lewis explains, 'but these operators can contribute really valuable data, not only on populations but on the impacts tourists are having on those animals.'
Euronews
02-03-2025
- Euronews
Volunteering with wildlife on holiday? Here are some ‘green flags' to look out for
Rob Perkins is a travel writer at activist travel company, Responsible Travel. A holiday volunteering with wildlife can be life-changing. You might learn new skills, meet people from all over the world, and perhaps even kickstart a career in conservation. And, at a time when much of the global news on climate change and biodiversity loss can be quite depressing, this kind of holiday is also a great way to feel that you are making a positive impact. From sea turtles to elephants, orangutans to bears, there is a growing range of volunteer trips that allow you to be useful. But unfortunately, not every project is high quality, and some may cost a lot of money without doing much to help. Selecting the right project is crucial to ensure your efforts are genuinely making a difference. Here are some 'green flags' to look out for. Transparency is key to choosing the right trip Any reputable volunteer organisation should be happy to talk openly about its different projects, as well as to answer questions about the nature of the role, and how volunteer work and funds make a difference. 'Look for initiatives that show tangible results and explain how volunteers specifically contribute to animal welfare,' says Michael Starbuck of wildlife conservation specialists The Great Projects. Many projects have a research element, such as tagging cheetahs in South Africa to track their movements or studying whales and dolphins off Italy's Ligurian Coast. 'If you are helping to conduct research, ask about the purpose of that research and how the data collected will be used,' adds Gemma Lay of the award-winning nonprofit POD Volunteer. In Italy, for example, data collected by researchers and volunteers monitoring whales and dolphins in the Ligurian Sea contributed to establishing the Pelagos Sanctuary, a transboundary Marine Protected Area signed into existence in 1999 to protect cetaceans from environmental and human impacts. The data collected now continues to guide conservation decision-making. One of the best ways to establish if you're looking at a worthwhile wildlife conservation project is to read the reviews of previous volunteers. They can also give you a good idea of what to expect from the experience. Contact with animals should be minimal Whether you're helping out at the Libearty Sanctuary in Romania, or the renowned Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary in Indonesian Borneo, your tasks might include preparing food, maintaining structures, giving tours, or creating enrichment activities. But they won't involve hands-on contact with the animals. 'Elephants should be allowed to live as natural a life as possible, rather than serving as entertainment, so any volunteering should also be hands-off, 'says Sarah Blaine of Mahouts Elephant Foundation. The foundation's programmes near the northern Thai city of Mae Sot are community-focused, with some days spent hiking into the forest to observe elephants living in their natural habitat. Funds from the project help the Karen mahouts who care for the animals to earn an income from their elephants, while they roam freely in the forest. Minimising contact is especially vital with projects where the aim is to help animals eventually return to the wild. Prolonged contact with humans can foster a dependency that slows the process down, so as much as you might want to get up close with the animals, it's in their best interests that you don't. 'Reputable organisations always put the wellbeing of animals first,' says Georgie Collcutt of gap year and career break specialists Oyster Worldwide. Be particularly wary of any volunteering projects that offer interactions with predators, such as walking with lions in South Africa, or hand-feeding lion cubs. Often these animals are destined for the canned hunting trade, and unwary volunteers are simply helping them lose a healthy fear of humans. Look for projects that engage with local communities A key indicator of a conservation holiday's quality is how it engages with surrounding communities. Volunteers helping to monitor turtle nests on the Greek island of Kefalonia might work with local beach bars and restaurants to minimise noise and light pollution that can distract hatchlings trying to reach the sea. And big cat release projects in South Africa will often need to negotiate with nearby farmers, to compensate them for lost livestock and prevent reprisals against the predators. If local people are not on board, then any conservation project will struggle to succeed. 'Ethical projects ensure that conservation efforts are culturally sensitive and have long-term viability,' says Georgie. 'Engaging with local populations fosters a sense of ownership and ensures that conservation initiatives are maintained after the volunteers have gone home.' Look for projects supporting conservation in the wild Many wildlife conservation volunteer holidays are based in sanctuaries, which perform an essential role in rescuing and protecting animals such as elephants, orangutans and bears. But these places, which should be a last resort, are sadly becoming increasingly necessary, with many species facing a range of threats from poaching to habitat loss. Look for projects that aim to benefit conservation in the wild. These might include releasing animals that have previously been injured or orphaned, reintroducing species into areas where they have gone extinct, or by supporting animals' ongoing survival through habitat restoration and protection. The best conservation projects of all are those that keep wildlife in the wild, where it belongs. By looking for these 'green flags,' you can choose a volunteer project that is both ethical and impactful, ensuring a rewarding experience that contributes positively to wildlife conservation.
Euronews
06-01-2025
- Euronews
Meet Justin Francis, the tourism pioneer behind responsible travel
Justin Francis founded Responsible Travel as a groundbreaking holiday company seeking to drive change in tourism. ADVERTISEMENT Responsible travel has become a common motto for tourists, tourism companies and tourism boards as they seek to lessen their impact on the environment and local communities. Now a phrase encapsulating everything from packing a reusable water bottle to avoiding overcrowded destinations, it was originally coined in 2000 by tourism pioneer Justin Francis. Francis founded Responsible Travel as a groundbreaking holiday company seeking to drive change in the tourism industry. Launched with the support of the late Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick, the business promoted an alternative type of travel aiming to reduce the negative impacts of tourism and maximise its benefits for local places and people. As part of the UK's 2025 New Year Honours, Francis was awarded an OBE for services to nature and the environment. Euronews Travel looks back on 25 years of the world's first responsible holiday company. Responsible travel celebrates 25th anniversary Responsible Travel started life as a research project for founder Francis while studying for an MSc in Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development at the University of Greenwich in 1999. According to the company, it was a response to how the tourism industry had been packaging up 'paradise' for sale with little regard for local people or environmental impact. This inspired Francis to found the Brighton-based activist holiday company a year later, alongside Professor Harold Goodwin. 'Responsible tourism is uniquely positioned to support a fairer transition to a nature-positive, low-carbon future,' says Francis, 'generating vital conservation funding and income in the least advantaged communities and places of huge significance for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.' To do so, Responsible Travel has screened its holiday partners from the start. The criteria include having a company-wide responsible tourism policy, a commitment to transparency, and a willingness to accept and engage with customer feedback. Justin Francis wins OBE for services to nature Since the launch of Responsible Travel, Francis has campaigned extensively on a range of human and animal rights issues, from orphanage tourism to cetaceans in captivity, as well as on accessibility and overtourism. Starting in 2009, he has campaigned against voluntary carbon offset schemes - advocating instead for aviation system change, flight and carbon reduction and ambitious steps to restore nature. In 2004, Francis founded The World Responsible Tourism Awards, now run by The International Centre for Responsible Tourism. He was appointed to the UK Council for Sustainable Business (CSB) in 2018, where he still serves as nature lead advising the British government on the Environmental Improvement Plan and the role of business. ADVERTISEMENT Francis also chairs Projects for Nature, a digital marketplace connecting nature restoration projects in the UK with corporate donors, and sits on the Board of Directors for Saruni Basecamp in Kenya, a community-based safari and conservation initiative working in partnership with Maasai and Samburu families across one million acres of land. These wide-ranging projects and roles have led to him receiving an OBE for services to nature and the environment. 'It's a huge honour to be recognised for the work that I love,' Francis says. 'The responsible travel movement has come a very long way in 25 years.' 'Responsible business is profitable' Within the industry, the combination of travel and social and environmental responsibility was initially met with scepticism, Francis' company says. ADVERTISEMENT Now, however, there are dozens of ethical tourism companies around the world - and receiving sustainability credentials has become key to a business profile. 'Responsible business is not only possible, but profitable - proving that is essential to driving urgent industry reforms,' says Francis. 'There are obstacles still - in tourism and other sectors alike - but it's encouraging to have seen what was once regarded as niche and oddball, progress to become a must-do for any credible business or tourism destination.'
