Choose a Responsible Dolphin or Whale Watching Tour
Dolphin and whale watching tours also need to be approached
with caution. Guaranteed encounters may mean that these marine
creatures have been enticed with food, which disrupts natural
feeding patterns and potentially introduces disease. Swimming with
dolphins can introduce stress to the animals — particularly when it
takes place in the shallow lagoons where the creatures have come
to rest. Choose a responsible boat tour operator or better still, watch
from the shore if possible.
Credit: Denis Kichatof/Shutterstock
Swim and Snorkel Responsibly
The simple act of touching a coral reef to see what it feels like is
enough to kill it and by extension, the marine life that calls it home.
Oils from your skin—especially sunscreen—can have a detrimental
effect. Hawaii just passed a law banning oxybenzone and octinoxate,
which scientists believe causes coral bleaching. Also, avoid
sunscreen containing titanium dioxide, which reacts with warm
seawater to create harmful hydrogen peroxide.
With some forethought as to best practices, wild
animal watching can be an enjoyable experience
for you while keeping the animals safe and their
habitats respected.
