16.03.2019 – Sunny Saturday
March 24, 2019
19.03.2019 – Beyond the plateau
March 28, 2019
Our guests aboard the Ribeira Brava were thrilled to see some Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) moving alongside a herd of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the coastline of the picturesque village of Ponta do Sol. Both groups were rather dispersed with the first group of shy, coastal-type Bottlenose dolphins displaying a rather evasive behavior towards us and moving close to the Pilot whales. The pilot whales seemed more indifferent to our presence and were leisurably logging before calmly socializing amongst one another. The second group of Bottlenose dolphins, that consisted of large, gutsy oceanic-type animals fearlessly approached the Ribeira Brava like a gang cornering you on the street after you’ve taken a wrong turn.
Photo-identification catalogues have helped scientists track the population dynamics of cetaceans through photos from opportunistic platforms like whale-watching companies for already some years. Lobosonda has contributed for quite a while with some of our team members even recognising individuals with obviously distinctive features.
In the centre of the pilot whale group today, for instance, we spotted a large grey-colored animal that resembled an individual that our team had repeatedly seen in summer. My colleague Fatima nicknamed the animal „Blondie“. We will have to check the photos to confirm that this animal indeed is Blondie but it is highly possible since 4 clans have displayed residency patterns to Madeira according to local scientists. I also could have sworn to see a Bottlenose dolphin we had encountered in the North two weeks ago again today amongst the oceanic-types, which again encourages me to check the photos.
A handful of our guests had been whale-watching in Tenerife, where they had also seen Short-finned pilot whales and they couldn’t help but wonder whether they coincidentally met the same group again today. Wouldn’t that be something…
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
14:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales
