30.09.2020 – Time to rest and time to play

Our guests were able to experience three very different situations with three different marine mammal species today. First, our spotter reported Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). These were distributed in small subgroups over a large area. These Pilot whales just had a siesta. Unlike humans, who have a breathing reflex, marine mammals have to make sure that no water enters their blow hole. That is why they are conscious breathers. In order to still have a resting phase, one half of the brain is in resting mode while the other half of the brain is active. After a while there is a change and the other side of the brain rests.

The Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), we saw, were also spread out in a wide radius, but they were milling around. There were frequent changes of direction of the animals. With so much agility, you can easily imagine that these animals can easily cover 100 km a day.

On top of that we could watch a group of socializing Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). The group consisted of females with calves. There was a lot of activity within the group. Some animals turned sideways so that we as observers could see parts of the fluke. Some animals stuck their box-shaped heads out of the water. This is called spy hop. The interaction of the animals with one another was clearly visible. Here was time to play. Socializing is an extremely important behavior within the group as it strengthens the bonds between the different group members. And in our case, the emotional connection between the mother and its offspring.

Overall, it was a very exciting, beautiful trip with a huge variety of impressions.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

14:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales

Stenella

09:30 Sperm whales

15:00 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales