Rangiroa Dolphins
R e s e a r c h l C o n s e r v a t i o n l E d u c a t i o n
RD in a nutshell
Dauphins de Rangiroa (DDR), which means "Rangiroa Dolphins" in English is a NGO dedicated to research, citizen science, conservation, and public outreach on Rangiroa bottlenose dolphins in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia. Indeed, these dolphins have been targeted by chronic intrusive dolphin watching practices for about 20 years.
Born in 2019, the NGO has a 15-year monitoring experience on Rangiroa bottlenose dolphins and a 10-year experience with volunteers from all over the world who join us every year to help the NGO complete its fieldwork.
Areas of focus
and partnerships
We focus our research on:
1. A demographic monitoring of the bottlenose dolphin community inhabiting Northern Rangiroa Atoll.
2. The dolphins' behavioral changes and risks associated with their interactions with scuba diving tourism. To achieve this, we focus on each of the dolphins’ history and personality.
3. The implementation of ethical and sustainable cetacean tourism in French Polynesia.
We work in partnership with:
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The Commune de Rangiroa
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The FAPE Te Ora Naho
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The Relais de Joséphine guesthouse
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The Teina et Marie guesthouse
Dolphins and
wildlife tourism
Whale and dolphin watching activities promising unique encounters with free-ranging cetaceans are increasing dramatically worldwide. The great sociability and pseudo smile of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops spp., which embody the human view of dolphins, indeed favour a perception of these animals closer to myth and romanticism than reality.
However, numerous studies conducted over the past 40 years in Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, and Europe show that these activities can have deleterious effects on cetaceans and may be risky for their admirers. In French Polynesia, recreational and commercial whale and dolphin watching has the potential to disturb and sometimes harm such marine mammals as the humpback whale, common bottlenose dolphin, and spinner dolphin.
This so-called ecotourism was primarily sold to officials and the public based on two benefits: To enjoy the beauty of cetaceans in their natural settings and to educate people about their vulnerability. Yet, current trends show that these benefits are often out-weighed by adverse consequences on the animals' welfare and fitness.
Our studies specifically focus on the effects of scuba diving tourism on Rangiroa bottlenose dolphins’ behavior and the potential risks for both the humans and dolphins associated with close underwater interactions. A PhD thesis was conducted on this topic by Pamela Carzon (PSL Paris Sciences et Lettres Université).
