About us

2011

Thanks to the data and observations collected by biologist Angela Ziltener and the SWDF team over the past few years, our local protection organization, HEPCA, and the community have learned a lot about the dolphins' ecology. This knowledge paved the way for creating the first protection zone for the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin in the Hurghada region, and we had the valuable support of the Red Sea Governor.

Red Sea Dolphin Project

2012

Foundation of the Care for Dolphins project in Hurghada.

2015

Angela Ziltener and Sina Kreiker showcased their research on “Selective self-rubbing behavior in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins off Hurghada, Northern Red Sea, Egypt” at the 21st Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in San Francisco.

2016

Hannes Jaenicke collaborated on film recordings for the ZDF series “In Action for Dolphins”. Additionally, Care for Dolphin and the National Parks Egypt, accompanied by the Red Sea Governor, organized a joint excursion to highlight the present condition of dolphins and proposed protection zones in Shaab el Erg and Shaab El Fanous.

2017

The initial buoys for the protection zones at Shaab El Erg and Fanous are successfully installed!

Working closely with HEPCA and the national park, we actively participate in joint inspection trips with park rangers. Our workshops on responsible dolphin tourism play a crucial role in educating captains and guides, providing valuable information for sustainable practices.

2018

We collaborate with the BBC.

Our collaboration with the BBC on “Our Blue Planet” premiered at the London IMAX cinema in September 2018 and remains a captivating show to this day. The film highlights the wonders of the sea, featuring the Red Sea dolphins, including our stars Sefa, Dandy, Daniel, and Juna. We're proud of this success and thankful to everyone involved.

To the BBC article

2019

CNN - Egypt Destination.

CNN highlighted El Gouna, Egypt, as a model for responsible dolphin tourism. Education is key to preserving the Red Sea's treasures. It's crucial for tourism entities to follow codes of conduct, minimizing impact. Filming occurred on the boat “Amelie”.

Watch the CNN video

2021

First for the environment!

We're thrilled that our President, Angela Ziltener, was awarded first place with the environmental prize, the “Trophée de femmes”, presented by the Yves Rocher Foundation.

“This award is a great honor for me personally and it represents my entire team. So we're really happy about it! It shows us clearly that we are on the right path and should never give up. We see it as a great recognition for our hard, years-long work in Egypt to protect the dolphins, which we always accompany with a lot of idealism and enthusiasm. Many thanks to everyone who supports the dolphins and nature!”

Yves Rocher Foundation 

Watch it on YouTube

2022

We reintroduced the Code of Conduct in El Gouna by placing billboards across the area in collaboration with partners. These informative displays aim to educate both locals and tourists. Additionally, hotels feature flyers with details about the Code of Conduct and guidelines for swimming with dolphins.