02.10.2026 – Sad surprise

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) can be found in Madeira’s waters year-round, while Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) pass through primarily during the summer months. Consequently, none of these marine mammals are an unusual sight in our waters.

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), however, which was calmly circling far to the west of the island, represented an extraordinary sighting. These baleen whales typically pass by Madeira in late winter or spring. What was going on with this whale, the second-largest of all species? The answer may sound somewhat sad: after analyzing the photos and GoPro footage, we concluded that this was not a fully grown fin whale and that it was emaciated and/or sick.
Food scarcity, water pollution, increased ocean noise, plastic, microplastics and environmental toxins are all factors that can compromise the health of marine mammals. Of course, it is impossible to determine exactly what was wrong with this particular fin whale.
It remains a surprise—a mighty one, given its size of 15 to 20 meters—but also a somewhat sad one.

by Claudia Gomes

Sightings of the day