Dolphin festival hopes to make big splash as it moves online in April
THEY are probably the world’s most popular aquatic mammals, possessing an intelligence and character which, in normal times, would attract marine tourists in their droves.
Now a festival devoted to dolphins is to run online to celebrate the Year of Coasts and Waters.
RSPB Scotland’s annual Dolphinfest celebrates the amazing marine wildlife around Aberdeen and the north-east coast.
The city’s Torry Battery, overlooking the harbour, is regarded as one of the best places in Europe to see bottlenose dolphins.
This year’s festival, over 7-11 April, will go ahead online after last year’s event was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
Dolphinfest, which is supported by Eventscotland, will feature online events aimed at encouraging people to help protect the marine environment.
It will also celebrate the end of the Dolphinwatch project,
which has been running in Aberdeen since 2013.
Organiser Sadie Gorvett, RSPB Scotland’s community engagement officer, said: “I am so grateful to Eventscotland for giving us the chance to run Dolphinfest this year.
“With the disappointment of so many events having to be cancelled in the past 12 months, I hope Dolphinfest will be something people can look forward to.”
Paul Bush, director of events at Visitscotland, said:
“Scotland offers the perfect stage to explore our natural environment and this year’s festival provides an opportunity to enjoy online events and learn about the marine wildlife of Aberdeen and the north-east coast.”
Dolphinfest is part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21, a celebrations of Scotland’s coasts and waters, with a programme of activities and events spotlighting these vital elements of our landscape.
Throughout Dolphinfest, people will be encouraged to enjoy the marine environment on their doorstep and to take action to protect it by taking part in the Big Blue Clean Up event, with Turning the Plastic Tide offering their top tips for safe litter picking.
Regarded as one of the planet’s most intelligent animals, dolphins are known to teach, learn, co-operate, scheme and grieve.
However, some dolphin species are at risk of extinction, especially some river-based species such as the Amazon river dolphin.