Wildlife Policy

1. We advocate for moral and responsible interacting with wild animals:  We oppose any actions that could jeopardize, dehumanize, or otherwise negatively impact animals or biodiversity. Including abstaining interactions such as touching, riding, teasing, provoking and feeding poses significant risks as they unpredictable and can injure themselves as well as people. We never pursue marine life that is showing avoidance tactics such as displaying threats, moving away or any alarmed behavior.  We avoid approaching marine life and instead let them approach if they choose to do so. We do not interfere with any breeding sites of any animal on land and in water as it can disturb or affect their natural routine. Additionally, we do not endorse nor practice hunting of any kind.

2. We support ethical establishments: Any facilities we visit should have marine life’s best interest, nutritional, environmental, social, physical and mental needs met or the facilities’ primary function is for the protection of the specific animal or species. Our partnerships with the NGOs in the Maldives such as Manta Trust, Olive Ridley Project, Maldives Whale Shark Research Program, Save The Beach and The Maldives Resilient Reefs Project provides the opportunity for their organization to interact with guests, increase their exposure to a wider audience and provide insight, knowledge and conservation activities for our team and guests.

3. We follow animal and marine life code of conducts: This is a set of rules and behaviors established by the marine life organisations operating in the Maldives and globally, which we expect our tour leaders and our guests to follow to create a safe environment for marine-life and a positive encounter for both. We are member of Green Fins and a supporter of World Animal Protection.

4. We support the welfare of animals and marine life: The welfare of animals and marine life comes before the experiences of tourists, and neither land nor marine creatures are to be fed. We respect their space when taking pictures and ensure photography and videography is completed in a way that our presence does not disturb or interfere with their natural behaviors. We do not endorse any acts or exhibitions involving wild animals or marine life.

5. Group wildlife interactions: Group viewing should be kept at a reasonable number of members as we do not want to interfere with their natural behaviors. This not only contributes to everyone’s safety but it opens the door for a more natural encounter. Only responsible tour leader trained in code of conducts will accompany groups when observing marine life as well as having the appropriate guest to guide ratio.

6. Laws and regulations: We comply with Maldives laws and regulations regarding marine life as well as operations at sea. Purchases of prohibited or endangered products and meat are not endorsed.

7. Removal of shells and corals: We discourage our guests and staff from touching or removing shells and coral whether they are alive or dead as this plays a vital role in erosion, which is a huge problem the Maldives already faces. Furthermore, corals provide essential food, shelter and breeding grounds for marine animals thus the removal and displacement of shells and corals can put marine biodiversity in the area at a disadvantage.

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

Staff Awareness:

• Secret Paradise management is responsible for making sure that tour leaders and employees are properly informed about the relevant wildlife and marine life policy.
• During tours or pre-snorkel briefings, Tour leaders will remind the guest of putting the policies and the codes of conduct into practice. The importance of these regulations is to be explained, ensuring the guests understands their significance and further spreading more awareness.
• Tour leaders are empowered with the authority to enforce the policy. This includes the correction of breaking the rules on land and in water, offering further explanations regarding the policy.

Guest Awareness:

• At the beginning of each tour, Tour leaders are accountable for providing awareness of the policy and codes of conduct.
• Guests who continuously disregard instructions after being advised about the policy will be subject to a three-strike policy. After three reported violations, restrictions may be imposed.
• The tour leader has the authority to restrict a particular activity or encounter regarding following a major wildlife conduct violation.
• The tour leader is responsible for the decision to partake in any wildlife or marine life encounters.