Dauphins de Rangiroa (DDR)

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4.8

Excellent


7

Reviews


5

Years in business

The French Polynesian NGO 'Dauphins de Rangiroa' carries out research, education, and conservation programs on Rangiroa bottlenose dolphins.

WHO ARE WE?

The NGO 'Dauphins de Rangiroa - DDR' carries out research, education, and conservation programs on Rangiroa common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia.

We have been monitoring these dolphins for 15 years. From 2012,  ecovolunteers from ...

Review Description

WHO ARE WE?

The NGO 'Dauphins de Rangiroa - DDR' carries out research, education, and conservation programs on Rangiroa common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia.

We have been monitoring these dolphins for 15 years. From 2012,  ecovolunteers from all over the world began to join us every year to help the NGO complete its fieldwork.


WHAT DO WE DO?

Our work focuses on:

1. A demographic and social monitoring of the small dolphin community inhabiting Tiputa waters, on the northern coast of Rangiroa Atoll.

2. A better understanding of the behaviors observed in these animals as part of their interactions with diving tourism.

3. The implementation of ethical and sustainable dolphin watching activities on the Tiputa area.


WHERE DO WE WORK?

French Polynesia is located at the center of the South Tropical Pacific Ocean, between 5° and 30°S, and 130° and 155°W. It is composed of five archipelagoes and 121 islands spread over a 5 million-square-kilometer area. The French Polynesian EEZ is one of the most remote worldwide and stands for almost 50% of the French EEZ. About 20 species of cetaceans may be observed in French Polynesian waters.

Yet 350 kilometers from Tahiti in the northwest Tuamotu Islands, the giant atoll of Rangiroa - 'Great Sky' in Paumotu -, a true oasis of life in the heart of the tropical Pacific, stretches its 170 kilometers of coral reefs, sands, and coconut trees around a 1,600-square-kilometer area with waters so fish-laden that it has become one of the world's top diving destinations. The atoll's impressive size - 80 kilometers long by 20 kilometers wide on average - and its two large passes, Avatoru and Tiputa, make it home to marine wildlife as exceptional as it is impressive.

French Polynesia enjoys a very mild tropical climate and is equipped with modern infrastructures.

No vaccinations are required to come and stay there.


OUR VISION

Since 2009, DDR's research director has been studying the small bottlenose dolphin community inhabiting the northern part of Rangiroa Atoll. Her work mainly focuses on the impacts of tourist activities on the dolphins’ behaviors. Indeed, these animals are targeted daily by commercial 'dolphin watching' tours. Literature and the media have endowed cetaceans with a reputation that predisposes people to expect friendly interactions with free-ranging dolphins. Theme parks and aquaria, where people can touch, feed and swim with captive dolphins, enhance this reputation.

The popularity of marine mammal viewing activities can result in conservation and socioeconomic benefits for the dolphins and local communities alike if they are conducted responsibly and with care, in accordance with existing regulations that protect these iconic species. However, if sighting activities are not conducted appropriately, they can place marine mammals at significant risk of harassment, injury or death.

Some of Rangiroa dolphins have been conditioned on the medium to long term to tolerate or seek out physical contact with scuba divers. Such a situation raises concerns about the risks related to unmanaged interactions between humans and wild dolphins. These risks include:

1. An increasing number of accidents involving dolphins and divers through, for example, 'pushy' behaviours or intimidation attempts from the dolphins and / or divers who forget basic diving safety rules.

2. Disease transmission from dolphins to humans and vice versa.

3. An increased vulnerability to human activities of the dolphins that became too familiar to human presence - loss of vigilance toward human activities -, resulting in collisions with boats, propeller injuries, fishing gear entanglement, etc.

4. Changes in ranging and social patterns.

5. The implementation of an 'open water dolphinarium' situation lacking basic educational components.


OUR GOALS

1. Through our long-term demographic and social monitoring of the Tiputa bottlenose dolphin community, we aim at spotting any deleterious impact of human activities on the dolphins.

2. Through our long-term ethological monitoring, we want to describe and better understand the impacts of tourism on the dolphins’ behaviors, and identify the risks associated with close interactions between dolphins and divers.

3. Through our education program, we want to share our results and recommendations with the general public to help developing sustainable tourist activities and improving our relationships with wildlife.


WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for responsible and committed scuba divers who know that there are safety rules to respect with wild animals, whether dolphins, sharks, rays, moray eels and other large or small marine wildlife. In order to preserve the animals' welfare and sea users' safety, please do not touch and / or feed the animals. Understand more to care more is an essential axis of our work. No touching, no feeding, no teasing: respect them, respect us!


WHY CHOOSE US?

Our volunteer mission is a participative tool for the demographic and ethological monitoring of a small and protected bottlenose dolphin community. It will allow you to observe and better understand these animals' routine, the issues related to their conservation and to learn more about the paradoxical relationships that exist between humans and wildlife. Finally, you will help DDR to sustain its long-term dolphin monitoring program.


Contact Person

Pamela Carzon

Spoken languages: English, Spanish, French
  Excellent response rate

Dauphins de Rangiroa (DDR) reviews

Béatrice Pujo rating5.0

2020 at Dolphin behavior and conservation

Google Translator: I loved the experience, everyone involved (Pamela, the people from the boarding house and the dive club) are very caring. A rich training on the dolphins of the pass of Tiputa to Rangiroa, beautiful dives and great stay. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...
Google Translator: Impact of tourism on bottlenose dolphins in Rangiroa Participation in the study: observation (photos, videos), sampling and understanding Changes in behaviour with divers. Awareness of the socialisation of bottlenose dolphins through slide shows, but also the processing of ...
Guillaume Saumier rating5.0

2019 at Dolphin behavior and conservation

Google Translator: Demographic monitoring of RANGIROA dolphins and awareness raising Learning techniques for monitoring populations of marine species (underwater photo-identification and video recording). Daily observations of individuals in the channel. Participatory tool for demographic, ...
Céline Kreder rating4.4

2019 at Dolphin behavior and conservation

It was a wonderful experience to share the today's life of the doplhin researcher and member of the GEMM association : They kindly introduce us to their way of life, to the fantastic submarine life by teaching us how to recognize every dolphins on the site, and introduce us to the researcher work of ...
Estelle rating4.0

2019 at Dolphin behavior and conservation

Google Translator: Whether at sea or on land, having the opportunity to observe the dolphins in Tiputa Channel is well deserved. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the atoll of Rangiroa is a haven of peace and to participate in the research of Pamela, the marine biologist, is a real chance. Lovers ...
Camille Beuchner rating5.0

2018 at Dolphin behavior and conservation

It was the best experience of my life. I wanted to link my two passions: diving and marine mammals. Pamela gave me this opportunity. She taught me a lot and allowed me to defend the seabed even more. I thank her again for her joy of life, the transmission of her knowledge and her passion. I will ...

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Life Below Water