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Croatia - Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation
In this program, you will get to live in Funtana, Croatia. Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Funtana has several water activities to offer, such as swimming, sailing, diving, and water skiing. Other activities include playing sports, going camping, or even riding horses! You will also be able to learn about the history, culture, and indulge in Croatian food and wine. Volunteers on this ...
In this program, you will get to live in Funtana, Croatia. Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Funtana has several water activities to offer, such as swimming, sailing, diving, and water skiing. Other activities include playing sports, going camping, or even riding horses! You will also be able to learn about the history, culture, and indulge in Croatian food and wine. Volunteers on this project will get to work closely with the Bottlenose Dolphins, an effort to help conserve the declining species. Volunteers will not only gain extensive knowledge of the species but also participate in conducting research on them, through observations and data analysis. Other tasks include educating locals on the dolphins and their role in the marine ecosystem.
Program Highlights
Contribute to valuable marine life research focused on bottlenose dolphins.
Experience the beauty of the Mediterranean!
Collect data straight from the sea.
Take part in the creation of the Dolphin Education Center.
Have three days free to explore and make memories with fellow volunteers!
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Quick Details
- Funtana, Croatia
- 1-2 Weeks
- Animal Welfare
- Biological Research
- Conservation
- Marine Conservation
- All Nationalities
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Program Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Excellent experience!
by: Antonio Ilic - CroatiaProgram: Croatia - Bottlenose Dolphin ConservationI joined Vivamar as a volunteer to gain skills in dolphin monitoring and to collect data for my undergraduate thesis project. From the very beginning even during my first email conservation Darja the project leader was very helpful and enthusiastic. Whilst volunteering I learnt essential skills for bottlenose dolphin distribution and abundance monitoring. The town of the research house was very safe and welcoming. The Istria region as a whole is very beautiful with lots of different activity options which volunteers have the chance to explore during off days. The project hosts a diverse group of individuals from all over the world which is really good as you get to learn about different approaches to conservation. Because Vivamar host a diverse group of people it creates a good atmosphere and gives you a chance to meet people who have similar interest but are from the opposite side of the world. After leaving the project I continued to collaborate with Darja while I was writing my thesis as she had allowed me to use data which she collected on dolphins so that I could do a much bigger analysis. Darja was always available and offered to help and provided great input while I was writing my thesis. Darja really has the best interest of volunteers and dolphin conservation as she continues to keep in touch with me to find out how I am progressing with my studies and career opportunities. I would definitely recommend this programme for those who have a real interest in dolphin conservation and want to participate in a programme where they will get to learn skills which can be applied to future cetacean conservation and monitoring.
Most memorable experience
by: Linn SamuelsonProgram: Croatia - Bottlenose Dolphin ConservationPersonally, this project gave a strong impact on me. It was a great feeling to know that you are contributing to something good in the world. It was also a fun experience with a lot of laughter! I felt very safe during the project and in the village. I could always trust our host Darja and knew that I was in good hands.The most memorable experience was the hands-on experience on the dolphin observations. It was an amazing and cool experience. I loved how the volunteers got such an efficient access to the wild animals and life around the village thanks to Darja.
Volunteering with dolphins
by: Erica Jackson - United StatesProgram: Croatia - Bottlenose Dolphin ConservationThis was my first experience volunteering abroad. On the first day of the program I was excited and thrilled to be learning about dolphins and Croatian culture. As the week progressed I was disappointed in some of the aspects of my trip. For instance, the weather was cold and rainy for most of the week and I felt like I missed out on a lot due to that. For anyone considering this program, I would suggest going later in the summer for swimming, visiting the nearby towns, etc. The living accommodations were basic, but it was easy to see past that. The food however, was not up to par. By accommodating to one person (who didn't eat vegetables), the rest of us missed out on the proper nutrition most of us were used to. Overall, the program was fun, I loved seeing the dolphins, and I do recommend volunteering for this program.
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Funtana, Croatia
Types and Subjects
- Adventure Types
- Camping
- Horseback Riding
- Sailing
Availability
Years Offered: Year Round
- 1-2 Weeks
- 1 Year
- 1-3 Months
Age Requirement
Age Requirement Varies
Guidelines
- All Nationalities
Cost per week
Program Cost Includes
- Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
- Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Weekend Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- In-Country Orientation
Accommodation Options
- Apartment/Flat
Qualifications & Experience
- English
Language Skills Required
- Any/All Education Levels Accepted
Accepted Education Levels
Application Procedures
- Online Application
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