12 Boats Surround Dolphins: Are We Endangering Their Safety?

Tuesday 18th March, Off the coast of Flic-en-Flac, the scene was striking. A dozen boats surrounded a pod of dolphins while enthusiastic swimmers attempted to engage with these remarkable marine animals. Although this experience is advertised as a magical moment for tourists, it raises urgent concerns about the welfare of the dolphins and the protection of their natural habitat.

Now a must-see attraction in Mauritius, swimming with dolphins draws in thousands of visitors each year.

However, the sheer number of boats and swimmers severely disrupts these wild creatures.

The constant noise of engines, the splashes of water, and the shouts of excitement alter their natural behaviours, causing stress and potentially interfering with their communication and rest periods.

Additionally, the close presence of boats poses a direct danger to the dolphins.

Boat propellers can injure or even kill them in collision incidents.

It is not unusual to see groups of dolphins struggling to navigate through the chaotic throng of boats, desperately seeking to escape this unrelenting human intrusion.

Although Mauritius has regulations in place for dolphin watching, their enforcement is gravely insufficient.

Boat operators are supposed to keep a minimum distance and avoid chasing the dolphins, yet these rules are often disregarded in the scramble for commercial gain.

The increasing number of unregulated vessels only worsens the plight of these beautiful creatures.

Source: l’Express