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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Asia

Asia

Macau

A casino city on the Pearl River where Chinese white dolphins live in nearby waters.

Chinese white dolphin
Chinese white dolphin, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Andrew Lai, iNaturalist, cc-by
Story only

Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Chinese white dolphins in Macao, Macao Government Information Bureau; Macao's pink dolphins are our friends and neighbours, Macao Magazine; Macao travel advice, UK FCDO.

Why: Chinese white dolphins, often called pink dolphins, live off Macau's eastern and southern coast, with their core home stretching from the airport to southern Coloane. They are a first-class state-protected species in China, the Pearl River Estuary holds about 2,500 of them, and the IUCN lists them as vulnerable. The best way to meet them is from the Long Chao Kok coastal trail on Coloane, watching from land, so we never need to go near them by boat.

Dolphins

Why Macau

Most people come to Macau for casinos, food and a day trip from Hong Kong, and wildlife is incidental. Chinese white dolphins, also called Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, live in the river mouth waters off east and south Macau.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

CambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamNorth KoreaSouth KoreaIndiaBangladeshBhutanNepalSri LankaChinaTaiwanPhilippinesMalaysiaJapanPearl River mouth and south Coloane, Macau

When to go

Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
The story

Where in Macau

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Pearl River mouth and south Coloane

Story only

Estuary waters south and east of Macau where Chinese white dolphins are recorded.

Also seen: Chinese white dolphin (from a boat, never certain)

Animals

Animals recorded in Macau

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Adult pink Chinese white dolphin swimming beside a grey calf in Pearl River estuary waterChinese white dolphinSousa chinensisSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlack-faced spoonbill in Taiwan, TW, iNaturalist research-grade observationBlack-faced spoonbillPlatalea minorSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLives on landVulnerableGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

Also in Asia
BangladeshBruneiCambodiaChinaHong KongIndonesiaJapanLaosMalaysiaMicronesia (FSM)MyanmarNorth KoreaPalauPhilippinesSingaporeSouth KoreaTaiwanThailandTimor-LesteVietnam

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