23.12.2022 – Full concentration

Today, on board, the question arose whether we can find the marine mammals using a JPS signal? Providing an animal with a transmitter is firstly very expensive and secondly a very invasive action towards the animals. If researchers want to learn something about a specific marine mammal species, such as migration routes, diving depths, etc., then a transmitter is shot into the blubber (fat storage) or into the dorsal fin. However, these transmitters do not last long. If we have a sighting, it’s thanks to our spotter. Standing in an elevated position on land, he uses binoculars to survey the sea and find wildlife. He supports us from shore with full concentration and a lot of experience. Once he has a sighting, he directs our captains to the sighting area. Sometimes, once we get there, we may have to do the fine-tuning ourselves. This occurs in cases like today, when a small pod of dolphins is moving quietly and the lighting conditions make it difficult for our spotter to keep an eye on the animals. Today, we looked for the Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), but they didn’t show up. However, we were lucky and were able to accompany a group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Also in the afternoon, our guests were able to observe Bottlenose dolphins. This time a subgroup was extremely active, and we saw great leaps.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins

14:30 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins

15:00 Bottlenose dolphins