Expedition: Fanimal in Croatia

20-30 July 2023

Cost: $3415 Canadian for 10 days

Dolphins around the world need our help. Each community that is lucky enough to have dolphins has their own unique story that has unique solutions to the conservation crisis. This expedition is giving Fanimals the opportunity to help the local communities in Northern Croatia conserve their dolphin populations.

This vegan trip includes two guides, one marine biologist and a whole lot of dolphin activities. Learn how to safely and ethically monitor dolphin populations, assist in the positive identification of individuals and their pods, take part in a one day training on how to help stranded dolphins and marine mammals and more!

Airport pick up, accommodation, meals, training and extra tours are all included. Fanimals, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet other fans of animals while taking part in hands on conservation of dolphins.

Volunteer Activities

This 10 day placement is well structured. Each day begins with a group breakfast and briefing of the planned activities for the day. Mornings are spent analyzing new data. Volunteers help to check and enter data from the previous evening into the database and transcribe the notes made during the observation. The afternoon is spent in the boat watching the dolphin pods and recording the findings. The group stays with dolphins as long as possible, sometimes returning as late as 8.30 p.m. Education is an important part of the conservation work. Each year the organization and local community celebrates “Dolphin Day” which includes lectures, workshops and games. Volunteers help out with preparations for this event.   

One day of the trip will be a full day excursion to explore Istria, which is the beautiful peninsula where the organization is based. Another full day is dedicated to learning about marine mammals and in particular about the local Bottlenose Dolphin population.

Accommodation 

You will be living in a volunteer apartment that you share with the other volunteers- and leaders! All food is provided, but cooking and cleaning are shared responsibilities between team members. Bedding can be provided for an additional 5 Euros or you can bring your own. There is a washing machine on site available for volunteers to use (5 Euro per load).

Safety

Do you have questions about safety? We have answers right here! Remember, you are travelling with a group and will have a leader and a local volunteer coordinator with you 24/7!

Includes

Airport pick up and drop off (at Bangkok International), accommodation, meals, on-site training, donation to Placement Partner, AEI Travel Manual, emergency support while at placement, carbon credits to offset 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, premium Individual Travel Insurance (up to $500, 000 USD in emergency medical coverage), travel discounts (through automatic membership to a volunteer only travel discount program), 24/7 travel and emergency assistance, enrolment with the Global Travel Academy to earn a certificate in International Volunteering. This 3-hour online course is curated by travel professionals and is designed to help you get the most out of your adventure.

Excludes

Flights, entry visa costs, international and domestic airport taxes, immunizations and medications. Note: The rabies vaccine is not required for this Experience however, if volunteers are interested in becoming rabies vaccinated, the average cost is $600- $1000 in North America.

What is Serious

This is an amazing opportunity to learn about the last remaining marine mammal population in the area, getting to know more about dolphin life, dolphin conservation and the North Adriatic marine ecosystem. You will be working closely with the marine biologists who will teach you how to distinguish one dolphin from the other and how to follow the population dynamics. This is a true “field placement” where you are doing actual research. You will be shown how to work with the data - collecting the data on the water, inputting it the office, and analyzing data from the previous day. If you have a strong interest in marine biology, you will really enjoy the many lectures offered about biology, data collection, wildlife and what to do in the unlikely event that a marine mammal is stranded on land. If you would like to learn more, the group would be pleased to provide you with more in-depth information about dolphin physiology and ethology - their natural behaviour. Your time at this placement will give you better insight into marine mammal science and can be a good ‘springboard’ for continuing your interest in this field when you are back home. As a volunteer you are of vital importance to the project, enabling the group to come closer in achieving the goal for conservation and greater awareness about these interesting and intelligent creatures.

What is Fun

What better place to volunteer with dolphins than in the Mediterranean! Enjoy the sun and crystal clear blue water, as you get to know your new friends and explore a different culture. Your stay in Croatia will be a nice balance between studying the dolphins and having time to relax and enjoy some leisure time. Observing the dolphins swimming near your boat each day is an exhilarating experience. After an afternoon on the water, the group always returns in an inspired mood, happy to be making a difference. To unwind you can choose to cook a healthy Mediterranean evening meal together or take some time for yourself. There is a good feeling of camaraderie. After dinner the group will often stay together and talk, play games or do something social. There will be time for you to go for a swim and snorkel, ride a bike along the nearby biking trails or explore the area.

The coastline is beautiful and the inner area of Istria stunningly resembles Italian Tuscany. The dolphins, the people and the beauty of the country will ensure that you will never forget your adventure in Croatia, volunteering with dolphin conservation.

This Expedition, like all others will have extra tours and trips that are included in the price. Olive oil tasting, truffle hunting and more!

Meet your leader: Nora Livingstone! Nora is an experienced canoe/mountaineering guide and volunteer coordinator. Having guiding trips in the mountains of Italy, the rivers of Ontario and four animal conservation trips in Greece and Kenya, Guatemala and soon Thailand! This will be her 6th AEI expedition!

Dates and Details

We will be arriving the 20th of July and leaving the 30th of July. We will work with you on arranging flights so we can all travel from the airport to the volunteer accomodation together.

Fundraising

Are you thinking of fundraising for a portion, or all your fees? Many of our clients have been very successful with their fundraising efforts. To learn more about their successful fundraising projects and see how you can fund raise for your experience, please visit our fundraising page!