No Flutuante dos Botos, situado no Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas, município de Novo Airão-AM, desenvolve-se o turismo interativo com o boto-vermelho (Inia geoffrensis). As interações com os botos iniciaram em 1998 e, desde então, o empreendimento passou a ser o principal ponto turístico da cidade. Neste trabalho é apresentado o perfil e a percepção ambiental de 119 visitantes do Flutuante dos Botos. Conclui-se que o turismo interativo com os cetáceos no Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas é positivo tanto no âmbito econômico-social do município de Novo Airão, pois promove direta e indiretamente a geração de renda, quanto no âmbito ambiental, já que o modelo de turismo implementado é visto pelos visitantes como uma ferramenta que contribui para a conservação dos botos.

Neste artigo, apresentamos as estratégias desenvolvidas para o ordenamento do turismo com botos (Inia geoffrensis) no Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas, Amazonas, Brasil. Utilizando-se de ferramentas de diagnóstico, de planejamento e de gestão participativa junto aos atores relacionados ao turismo local, foram elaboradas e colocadas em prática normas e orientações quanto à estrutura mínima e à localização do empreendimento onde as interações com os botos acontecem, bem como ao modo como as interações dos visitantes com os animais devem ser desenvolvidas. Estas diretrizes reduzem significativamente os riscos de acidentes e aumentam os benefícios que o turismo com os botos no Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas oferece, podendo subsidiar a elaboração de futuros projetos e de políticas públicas voltadas para a gestão do uso público em outras áreas protegidas.

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Being considered charismatic cetaceans are among the animals most sought after in tourist interactions that may involve observation, touch, swimming, and provisioning food. This tourism model has the potential to generate socioeconomic and conservationist benefits. However, when carried out in a disorderly manner, this can have a negative impact on cetaceans and tourists alike. In this chapter, we discuss the challenges and advances within the process of participatory planning of tourism with Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis). Our goal is to present strategies that can support the development of projects and public policies aimed at management of wildlife tourism in other areas. Since its implementation at the Anavilhanas National Park-Brazil, the activity had never had its impact monitored by any competent bodies, and this has led to problems and quick spreading to other sites. The rules and guidelines implemented in have significantly reduced risks for tourists and dolphins alike, improving tourist experience and promoting the awareness of animal life. However, many issues remain and need to be solved, especially in the protected areas. These include reduced staff levels, which limits the ability to implement and monitor planned actions. Such shortcomings lead to setbacks in the development of tourist activities with cetaceans.

Provisioning food to wildlife is a strategy used to habituate animals to human proximity during tourism activities, but it can contribute to changes in individual behavior and social structure and impacts on the nutritional health status. This article evaluates the presence and relationships of Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) in feeding sessions at a floating house in Anavilhanas National Park, Brazil. The Amazon River dolphins most frequently observed during the study period also presented higher constancy in the feeding sessions. Food provisioning had a variable impact on Amazon River dolphins, making it possible to identify regular, occasional, and rare visitors. The most frequently observed Amazon River dolphins showed strong connectivity, with some individuals playing an important role in the network, acting as a bridge, connecting the set of nodes. These results provide important information about the level of conditioning and social relationships of Amazon River dolphins, which can assist in the development of strategies aimed at reducing the negative population health consequences of supplying food.