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Is a Return to Travel Actually a Bad Thing?

Is a Return to Travel Actually a Bad Thing? Fodor s 3/9/2021 Melissa Hobson © Provided by Fodor s For many of us, it’s been a year since we’ve been able to travel internationally. While dreaming of the day we can travel again, we’ve read stories about nature bouncing back and wildlife returning to areas previously overwhelmed by human activities. But has this break been positive for vulnerable ecosystems? And, if so, should we be concerned about the impending return of tourism? The answer, as you might expect, is complex. A recent study from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) highlights the issue of tourism-related pressures on megafauna. Researchers found the number of whale sharks with major injuries (from incidents such as boat strikes) increased from 24% in 2006 to 45% in 2019. Seemingly, this link between tourism pressure and injured megafauna should mean less travel must be beneficial.

Whale sharks: boat strikes in protected areas could be harming the animals development

The biggest fish in the ocean, whale sharks, are incredible animals. They can reach lengths of over 18 metres and weigh more than 19,000kg. Each shark has a unique pattern of spots on its body, like a fingerprint. The number of whale sharks in our oceans has been in decline for years and as a result the species is endangered. Recently, efforts to conserve the animals through ecotourism have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Marine protected areas (MPAs), where human activities like fishing are restricted, are an important tool when it comes to the global conservation of many animals in the sea, including whale sharks. But our new study shows these areas might not be the safe haven we once thought they were.

Whale sharks lingering at tourist hotspots at risk of boat strikes

Whale sharks lingering at tourist hotspots at risk of boat strikes Ian Randall For Mailonline © Provided by Daily Mail MailOnline logo Lingering at coastal tourist hotspots is putting injured whale sharks at a greater risk of boat strikes, a study of the larger, slow-moving filter-feeders has found.  Researchers from York and the Maldives warned that wounded sharks stay in certain, favourable locations for three times longer than their uninjured counterparts. This means they not only miss out on seasonal food sources in other areas, but that they also put themselves at greater risk of further injury as a result of human activity. 

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