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| Dolphin-watching |
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| Dolphin-watching activity began in Hong Kong in the mid-1990s with at least one commercial operator. Dolphin-watching activity expanded greatly after 1997 when the dolphin was chosen as the official mascot of the 1997 hand-over ceremony. As a result, more and more people wanted to see Chinese white dolphins. Responsible dolphin-watching operators also hope to increase people's awareness of the importance of marine conservation through dolphin-watching activities. |
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Value of dolphin-watching |
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Dolphin-watching in the wild has proven to play an important role in the conservation of whales and dolphins around the world. The educational value is the most important. Participants can learn a great deal about the life of dolphins and the threats they face outside a concrete tank. Participants can read informative brochures and learn even more from on-board tour guides who can share their wealth of knowledge on dolphin conservation and marine environment. |
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Dolphin-watching boats can also serve as good research platform for researchers to collect scientific information, e.g. distribution, behaviour and response to vessels. While benefiting dolphin research and conservation, they also contribute to the local economy. Revenue generated from dolphin-watching activities benefit the tourist industry through the hiring of tour guides, boat rentals, catering services and other tourism resources. On top of this, a small part of the proceeds support local research projects and educational programs (such as free tours to underprivileged children) which are commonly offered around the world. |
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Where to watch Chinese White Dolphins |
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| The best places to observe dolphins are mainly in the western waters of Hong Kong. These include the waters around Lung Kwu Chau, Sha Chau, the Brothers, Black Point, the northeast corner of airport platform, and the Castle Peak Power Station on the northern side of Lantau Island. In addition, dolphin watchers can find dolphins fairly easily along the west coast of Lantau including waters neat Tai O and Peak Hill. |
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What to bring |
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- Wear comfortable, light clothing and shoes.
- Under cold and windy weather, be sure to wear a windbreaker or a coat, and bring a raincoat when it rains.
- Those who may get seasick should take some sea-sickness pills 30 minutes before boarding the dolphin watching boat.
- To avoid getting sunburn, remember to wear a hat and apply some sunblock. Sunlight reflected from water surfaces can hurt your eyes, so wearing a pair of sunglasses is recommended.
- Make sure to reduce as much waste as possible, and bring all the trash back on land to dispose of it.
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| Tips ... |
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- In order to enrich your dolphin watching experience, you should choose a dolphin operator with good practices and ample experience. The operator should also be able to provide the most accurate and updated information on the Chinese white dolphins.
- Be familiar with the code of conduct for dolphin watching activities adopted by the AFCD, and make sure the boat driver can follow these guidelines without harassing the dolphins.
- During the trip, be sure to hold onto the handrail, as the boat may rock back and forth when vessels or high speed ferries pass by frequently in dolphin habitat.
- After locating a dolphin group, the crowd should avoid congregating on one side of the boat or it could tilt at an angle. Remember that the dolphins will swim all around the boat instead of staying on one side of the boat. So participants should be patient to stay where they are and the dolphins will finally swim to your side.
- The chance of seeing dolphins really depends on weather and sea conditions on that day, and the chance could be lower in heavy rain, low visibility or rough sea conditions. Also, participants should understand that Chinese white dolphins are wild animals, and they are not living to entertain and please us, but they are engaged in their own daily activities. Therefore, be easy minded, and patiently wait and observe, and you may be lucky enough to see some dolphins close by!
- The most important thing is to realize that dolphin watchers are visiting the home of dolphins, where everyone should behave as a considerate visitor. Let the dolphins to decide whether they approach or flee from our boats, instead of keep chasing them.
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