Swim, Snap, and Support: How Your Galápagos Tour Can Help Protect Marine Wildlife

The Galápagos Islands are one of the few places on Earth where you might find yourself swimming alongside ocean giants like whale sharks, manta rays, or even a pod of dolphins. It’s an amazing moment that stays with you forever, but what if that moment could also help protect them?

With a camera in hand and a curious eye, your encounter can become more than just a memory. It can become data for scientists working to protect these incredible species.

How Your Photos Can Help Conservation

When you join a Galakiwi tour, we make the most of your time in the water. You’ll explore areas where whale sharks, manta rays, and other marine animals are often seen, places like Kicker Rock or even on inter-island boat rides. Whether you’re snorkeling, diving, or catching a glimpse from the boat, the images you capture could contribute to marine conservation efforts.

Platforms like Wild Me, iNaturalist and ICARUS are revolutionizing the way we study wildlife. Using AI-powered image recognition, these platforms can identify individual animals, like whale sharks, It’s a modern, non-invasive way to monitor wildlife populations, no tagging required.

And that’s where you come in.

Why Tracking Species Like This Matters

Ocean giants like whale sharks, giant manta rays, sperm whales, and humpback whales are still incredibly mysterious to scientist. Where do they go? How long do they stay in one place? What migration routes do they follow? And how are they affected by changes in their environment?

Tracking these species helps answer those questions, and your photos can play a direct role in that research. Let’s take whale sharks as an example. Each one has a unique pattern of spots behind its gills, like a fingerprint. A clear photo of this area can:

• Identify a specific individual
  
• Track where it’s been spotted over time
  
• Help researchers monitor population size and health
  
• Highlight important feeding or breeding areas
  
• Inform marine conservation policies
  

This kind of data is essential for protecting not just whale sharks, but other migratory marine species. The more we understand their behavior, the better we can advocate for the marine protected areas and international agreements that help them survive.

And it all starts with a single photo, taken by a traveler like you.

Citizen Science in Action

One of the leading platforms is Sharkbook.ai, part of the Whale Shark Photo ID Library. It blends citizen science and computer vision to help researchers across the globe identify and track individual whale sharks.

And it’s not just for sharks! Check out:

• Flukebook – for whales and dolphins
  
• MantaMatcher – for manta rays
  
• Animal Tracker App – for any tagged animals you might spot
  
• iNaturalist – for learning and identifying wildlife, we specially recommend this for educational tour or family travel with young ones for an immersive learning experience
  

How to Take Photos That Help

Here’s how to make your wildlife photos count:

Step 1: Respect the animals

• Don’t chase or get too close
• Never try to touch or attract their attention
• Let encounters happen naturally
  

Step 2: Capture the ID

Each ocean giant has its own natural “ID tag”, and knowing where to look helps make your photo count. For whale sharks, aim for a clear side view just behind the gills. Manta rays are identified by the unique patterns on their bellies, while whales and dolphins can often be recognized by the shape and markings of their tail (fluke). Learning these ID spots in advance will help you get the best possible photo for science.

Step 3: Submit your photos

Once you’ve captured a clear shot, upload it to one of the recommended platforms. Be sure to include details like the date, time, and location of the sighting. Not sure which species you spotted? Just ask your Galakiwi guide, they’re always happy to help you get the information right.

Step 4: Verification + Matching

• A researcher will check your submission
• The system will run a match using AI
• Your photo may help confirm a known individual, or discover a new one!
  

And just like that, you’ve contributed to real science.

Whether you’re snorkeling, diving, or simply exploring the Galápagos with your camera in hand, you have the power to contribute to something bigger. One photo can support real research, protect marine wildlife, and help shape conservation efforts for years to come.

So next time you’re gliding past Kicker Rock or watching a manta ray sweep by, remember, your Galápagos adventure doesn’t end at the surface. Explore our tours and be part of a journey that supports science, protects nature, and uplifts local communities.