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THE CALL of the WILD

THE CALL of the WILD Robin Petch—also known as “the Whale and Dolphin Man”—is passionate about studying and protecting the marine environment. Here, he reveals how he passes his knowledge on to Viking guests This page, top to bottom: A brown booby hitchhiking on the foremast of Viking Sun; a harbor seal spotted in east Russian waters from the deck of Viking Orion Opposite: A pod of common dolphins breaching the water in the Bay of Biscay My first Viking voyage also happened to be the first trans-Atlantic crossing for Viking Star in September 2016. The itinerary In the Wake of the Vikings® was particularly good for spotting whales and dolphins, and guests reported how the atmosphere and activity in and beyond the Explorers’ Lounge were similar to those found on an expedition ship. This is something I now try to re-create on every voyage by involving guests in spotting and recording wildlife, and providing opportunities to ask questions and share stories. Each wildlife encounter is carefully logged with latitude and longitude coordinates and data about visibility and sea conditions. Guests can access and add to this ongoing record, which is used to help further their understanding of both the movements and distribution of whales, dolphins and porpoises. My first lecture is usually a rundown of what we are likely to see on the cruise, especially the whales, dolphins and porpoises, but also the other creatures to look out for. Later talks look in more detail at particular species, environments or conservation issues. Then, every sea day—and often when we enter and leave port—my wife, Kris, and I will be on deck, watching, recording and photographing what we see. Some guests soon become regular watchers, putting in almost as much time as we do, but many more join us for shorter periods. And suddenly, sea days become a chance to engage with the amazing creatures we share our planet with. People are often surprised at just how much wildlife we see, but weather and sea permitting, we expect to spot something every day we are at sea, wherever we are. Some areas are, of course, better than others, but the main factor is how much time you are prepared to spend watching, and the beauty of the Viking fleet is that there are so many places to watch in comfort. The deck outside of the Explorers’ Lounge is the best location, but the lounge itself is very comfortable, and the floor-to-ceiling, self-cleaning windows provide superb views. But many guests, once inspired to watch, enjoy their wildlife from The Restaurant, World Café, or the loungers and chairs along the edge of the Wintergarden and Main Pool. Whitecaps, waves and swells greatly reduce the chances of spotting wildlife, so my top tip is to concentrate your efforts on days when the sea is calm. Also, learn where the best places to watch are: coastal and continental shelf areas are generally better than the deep ocean, but there are feeding areas for some species hundreds of miles offshore. Sometimes underwater ridges and seamounts, canyons and ocean currents can result in concentrations of food and, therefore, predatory animals far from land. Even in relatively 114 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

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