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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean

Europe and Mediterranean

Slovenia

A short Adriatic coast where about 150 resident bottlenose dolphins live in the Gulf of Trieste. We share the story only.

Common bottlenose dolphin
Common bottlenose dolphin, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: NOAA on Unsplash
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: Dolphin watching guidelines - Morigenos, Slovenian Marine Mammal Society; Dolphins - Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) environmental indicators; Morigenos - activities and services.

Why: Slovenia's short coast has a year-round community of common bottlenose dolphins, and the researchers at Morigenos in Piran have studied them since 2002 and photo-identified about 130 animals. The dolphins are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Slovenian law, and the Morigenos guidelines ask boats to keep at least 100 m away, travel slowly and parallel, stay no longer than 15 minutes, and never chase, feed, swim with or touch the dolphins. We follow those rules and would only ever watch alongside the researchers.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The US State Department rates Slovenia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, as of 15 May 2026. Smartraveller also advises normal safety precautions, and mentions petty crime and alpine hazards such as avalanches and flash floods. Sources: US State Department travel advisory, Slovenia · Smartraveller travel advice, Slovenia Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

DolphinsWildlife watching

Why Slovenia

Slovenia has only 46 km of sea, but it holds a resident group of about 150 bottlenose dolphins, studied by a local research group for more than 20 years. They are seen all year, feeding, resting and raising young. The rule from the researchers is to stay 100 m away, with no swimming and no feeding. We offer no trips here.

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

KazakhstanRussiaNorwayGreenlandFranceIsraelLebanonPalestineTunisiaAlgeriaJordanKuwaitIraqIranSyriaArmeniaSwedenBelarusUkrainePolandAustriaHungaryMoldovaRomaniaLithuaniaLatviaEstoniaGermanyBulgariaGreeceTurkeyAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandItalyDenmarkUnited KingdomAzerbaijanGeorgiaSloveniaFinlandSlovakiaCzechiaSaudi ArabiaN. CyprusCyprusMoroccoEgyptLibyaBosnia and Herz.MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoPiran and the Gulf of Trieste, Slovenia

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 Slovenia

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

Piran and the Gulf of Trieste

Story only

A small town on a quiet gulf where bottlenose dolphins live all year.

Also seen: Bottlenose dolphins (from a boat, at 100 m or more)

When: Year-round. The resident bottlenose dolphins of the Gulf of Trieste live here through the year. Watching from a respectful distance is the way to enjoy them.

Animals

Animals recorded in Slovenia

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

Land animals
Common bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNoble pen shell in Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, FR, iNaturalist research-grade observationNoble pen shell (fan mussel)Pinna nobilisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredMauve stinger jellyfish in Girona, ES-CT, ES, iNaturalist research-grade observationMauve stinger jellyfishPelagia noctilucaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedWhite-tailed eagle in flight low over calm water with a fish in its talons, near Raftsund, Lofoten, NorwayWhite-tailed eagleHaliaeetus albicillaSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernEuropean shag sitting on its nest of dry grass, dark green-tinged plumage and yellow gapeEuropean shagGulosus aristotelisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo pygmy cormorants perched on a bare branchPygmy cormorantMicrocarbo pygmaeusSeen in 26 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYelkouan shearwater lifting off the sea surface with wings raisedYelkouan shearwaterPuffinus yelkouanSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
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 Europe and Mediterranean
AlbaniaAlgeriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusDenmarkEstoniaFaroe IslandsFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandIcelandIrelandItalyLatviaLebanonLibyaLithuaniaMaltaMonacoMontenegroMoroccoNetherlandsNorwayPalestinePolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSyriaTunisiaTürkiyeUkraineUnited Kingdom

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We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Slovenia. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

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