by Dhaneshi Yatawara
The government will bring regulations on whale watching to make it one of the popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, soon.
The Director General (Wildlife, Botanical and Zoological Gardens) of the Economic Development Ministry Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja said it was essential to regulate areas and distances to watch to prevent disturbing the animal’s natural behaviour.
The Director General (Wildlife, Botanical and Zoological Gardens) of the Economic Development Ministry Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja said it was essential to regulate areas and distances to watch to prevent disturbing the animal’s natural behaviour.
“If whale watching done haphazardly, it will disturb the natural patterns of the animal. So, now it is the appropriate time for us to take steps as we did not have such regulations in the past. Such rules and regulations are active and not new in the international level,” Dr. Pathiraja said.
As an increased number of tourists are expected in the upcoming season, tours for whale watching is also expected to increase. Thus measures are necessary to protect the natural habitat patterns of whales while letting the tourists to enjoy as well.
According to Dr. Pathiraja, such organized framework will be more beneficial to the tourism industry. Whales can be found around Sri Lankan waters for 6 - 8 months of the year.
Pods of blue, sperm and humpback whales are the most commonly sighted while the Bryde’s whale seen rarely in Sri Lanka. Of the 80 species of whales observed and identified worldwide, around 27 are found in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Whale and dolphin watching is a seasonal activity in Sri Lanka available on the West coast in Kalpitiya and along the Southwest coast from November to March and in the Eastern coast off Trincomalee from June to September.