Episode 5 of Wildlife Ahead takes hosts James and Elysee to the Great Barrier Reef. One walk along the Cairns esplanade and they quickly realised how over-touristed this fragile ecosystem may be.

 

Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is a beloved international icon, and home to diverse sea life. It’s a tourist hotspot for Australians and people all over the world, and sees about two million visitors each year.  However, its plight is also well known – the coral is being increasingly bleached and killed.

James and Elysee investigate if it’s possible to be an ethical tourist in one of the world’s most fragile and important ecosystems. 

The pair hit the streets to chat with tourists from around the world who’ve descended on the reef, as well as experts in the (underwater) field, like marine biologist and reef guide Kate Slaughter and community campaigner with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Tanya Murphy.

 

 

Tune in now to learn more about the true state of the reef and how tourism is affecting the very thing people are travelling so far to see.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

 

Photos supplied by Elysee Lee

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