Zodiac boats allow for passengers to get close to the animals, with expert guides explaining the wildlife.

CNN: Embrace ice: 8 cool getaways

The whale numbers give plenty of opportunities for the researchers to get close to the animals - but often not close enough to get a good breath sample.

BBC: How do you breathalyse a whale?

Since then, the only way to see a panda in the Sichuan province has been to visit the Chengdu Panda Reserve -- one of the most important international centres for panda research -- which provides a fantastic opportunity to get up close to the animals and watch them chomping down on bamboo and play fighting.

BBC: The return of China��s wild panda

The fences shock animals if they get too close to a boundary, such as the edge of a garden.

BBC: Monima O'Connor, Russell George and William Powell