25.06.2018 – The discovery of an extraordinary specie: The fizzy whale

Two incredible beautiful trips are behind us. If you follow our blogs regulary, you might think it always sounds like this. There is a very good reason for that: IT IS REALLY LIKE THIS!!

During the morning tour we found two Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) but shortly after we met two further groups. Some were in the mood to jump! And to say it right away, the double breaches are not photoshoped! Oh, and we discovered a tiny mini calf among the adults! How many days it already has been in our Blue office? For sure not long! A healthy dolphins female can get every 2-3 years one calf after a gestation period of 12 month. We experienced again the typical matutinal “Very very beautiful – feeling”.

The blowoff of the day: the discovery of a very extraordinary, new whale species: The Fizzy whale! What a phenomenon! With help of the bubble trail we always knew in which direction he was going. The fizzy bubbling band he dragged announced his emerge. Every change of direction, every crossing in front of our bow was easy to trace. Wondrous and captivating!

If you observe a so-called reproductive group of male whales fighting with their consexual for their right to capture a females heart, you will see they often use bubble trails to appear bigger, more energetic and stronger. But this Baleen whale was alone and furthermore super relaxed and easygoing.

Certainly you already found out, Fizzy whales do not exist! The puzzle solution: what we saw was a Tropical whale (Balaenoptera edeni), but he truly earn the naming 😉

Sometimes marine mammals are named by their “discoverer”. In this case John Bryde was the eponym. But the only thing this Gentleman wanted after all, was to kill whales. He was involved in constructing the first whaling factory in Durban/South Africa in 1909. Since this type of whale does not migrate in cold waters and prefers (sub)tropical areas, it is as well known as “Tropical whale”. In my opinion Mr. Bryde has no right to take further credit for this beautiful creature and latter naming describes a special characteristic of these whales, so I prefer to call them “Tropical whale”! Or in our case today: The Fizzy whale! 🙂

Finally we had two Bottlenose dolphins (the same animals like in the morning) and here as well long bubble trails. And if I come to think about it, I noticed it as well during our morning trip.

A wonderful, eventful, fizzy, bubbly day! 🙂

by Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Tropical whale, Bottlenose dolphins