When you join a Galakiwi tour, we make the most of your time in the water. You\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platforms like Wild Me<\/a>, iNaturalist<\/a> and ICARUS<\/a> <\/a>are revolutionizing the way we study wildlife. Using AI-powered image recognition, these platforms can identify individual animals, like whale sharks, It\u2019s a modern, non-invasive way to monitor wildlife populations, no tagging required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s where you come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking these species helps answer those questions, and your photos can play a direct role in that research. Let\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it all starts with a single photo, taken by a traveler like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the leading platforms is Sharkbook.ai<\/strong><\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it\u2019s not just for sharks! Check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how to make your wildlife photos count:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Respect the animals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 2: Capture the ID<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each ocean giant has its own natural \u201cID tag\u201d, 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<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve 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<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And just like that, you\u2019ve contributed to real science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you’re snorkeling, diving, or simply exploring the Gal\u00e1pagos 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So next time you’re gliding past Kicker Rock or watching a manta ray sweep by, remember, your Gal\u00e1pagos adventure doesn\u2019t end at the surface. Explore our tours<\/strong><\/a> and be part of a journey that supports science, protects nature, and uplifts local communities<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gal\u00e1pagos 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\u2019s an amazing moment that stays with you forever, but what if that moment could also help protect them? With a camera in hand […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-galapagos-wildlife","category-pre-trip-advice"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1757"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2288,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1757\/revisions\/2288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/EAGLE-RAY-SNORKEL-PK-LR_L3B5479-edited-889x500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy Tracking Species Like This Matters<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n![\"Galapagos](\"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ISA_Tintoreras_Boat_Pax__Rays-edited-1536x864-1-889x500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCitizen Science in Action<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n![\"whale](\"https:\/\/www.galakiwi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-neil-ni-2148510469-31959085-edited-1-889x500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Take Photos That Help<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n