Turismo interativo com botos (Inia geoffrensis) no baixo Rio Negro, Amazônia Central

Abstract

In Anavilhanas National Park, located in the Lower Rio Negro, state of Amazonas-Brazil, interactive tourism with Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is common. This species of dolphin is endemic to South America continental waters. This study aims to characterize interactive tourism with Amazon River dolphin in Anavilhanas National Park and to assess the potential problems related to the tourism model currently being used, the lack of regulations for cetacean-based tourism in the Amazon, and the scarcity of information about its potential impacts. This study also assesses tourism‟s positive and negative aspects and proposed management measures that contribute to the standardization a tourism model for the Amazon. This study uses diagnostic tools, planning and participatory management of local tourism, interviews with visitors and residents of Novo Airão, photo-identification and monitoring of the frequency of dolphins in tourism enterprise where interactions with cetaceans occur, participatory mapping with tourism guides, and a population inventory of cetaceans in Anavilhanas National Park. Standards and guidelines were developed and put into practice regarding the minimum structure and appropriate locations of interactive tourism activities, as well as guideline for how visitor interactions with animals should occur. These guidelines significantly reduced the risk of accidents and increased the benefits that dolphin-based tourism generates. The study shows that most visitors believe that interactive tourism with the dolphins helps to preserve the species by promoting an increase in knowledge about dolphins and helping to raise awareness among people about the need to protect these animals. In addition, most residents consider dolphin interaction to be one of the primary tourist attractions in Novo Airão, attracting visitors, contributing to local income generation and assisting in the conservation of these animals, although some residents believe that the benefits of tourism are concentrated only within families that operate tourism enterprise. It was possible to identify 13 individuals of Amazon River dolphin involved in the interactive tourism activities. Monitoring of these animals revealed that the frequency with which they took part in the tourism enterprise was only slightly influenced by river level, and that food supply affected the behavior of individuals differently, causing substantial changes in the natural hunting behavior of some animals. The study also shows that cetaceans that are unaccustomed to tourism interactions use a wide variety of environments in Anavilhanas National Park, and have higher densities in certain lakes and river channels. Such areas could be used for observation-based tourism from boats, as this activity respects a series of rules aiming at diminishing possible negative impacts on the animals. This study provides important information for the owners of the tourism enterprise and for the managers of Anavilhanas National Park, and indicates the need for elaboration of future projects and public policies aimed at the managing public use in other protected areas.