Whales, Dolphins Boost Tourism Hopes For East Timor
Australian scientists hope that a hot spot of whale and dolphin activity near East Timor will spark an ecotourism boom for the fledgling nation.
The
Australian Institute of Marine Science has been surveying marine life
off East Timor's coast and has discovered a migratory corridor used by
at least 10 species of whales and dolphins. Among them is the world's
biggest mammal, the blue whale.
Scientists say the animals have been found in huge numbers in the area,
prompting hopes that the concentration of wildlife will attract
tourists to East Timor, one of Asia's poorest countries.
Karen Edyvane, a professor at the institute, says to find so many whales and dolphins in one place is extraordinary.
"Marine biologists only get an experience like this probably once every
10 years where you come across a natural phenomenon like this where it
completely blows your mind," Edyvane said.
Ecotourism is a fast growing trend in the world and the discovery could
be a welcome boost to East Timor's economy. Whale-watching tours, in
which tourists are taken in boats to see the endangered animals, have
been lucrative for many island nations.
East Timor needs all the financial help it can get. Along with its oil
and gas reserves, tourism could breathe life into the economy.
