06.11.2018 – Honest signals
November 23, 2018
09.11.2018 – Nocturnal sprinters
November 25, 2018
Today, our guests have truly earned the “WW” certificate. If you think “WW” means whale watching … you are only half right. On our morning trips, our whale watchers received the “Waves and Water Certified certificate”, as our two boats had to tackle a few wave rides that provided some salty refreshment. But the thirst for adventure of all was absolutely worth it and we were rewarded with a sighting of active Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) mixed with Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Seeing breaching Sperm whales is always breath taking. This mass of animals (20-40t) rises in the air and with a big splash re-enters into the sea. Is this a form of communication? Moments later, another Sperm whale in our vicinity began to slap its massive tail on the surface. So it is quite possible that the location of the whales was communicated to each other. However, there was another situation in the clustered small group, of the tail slapping whale… a group of Bottlenose dolphins surfed with speed towards the whales, which with persistent spy hops (head is from the water stretched) reacted. Was there any communication between the whales and dolphins here? Of course, breaches can have other reasons: Dominance – Display behaviour – Aggression – Defence – Getting rid of parasites – Joy of life … or did they breached because of Paula’s birthday today? 🙂
Here is a little information: Many people still remember amber when it comes to making perfume. Amber is a waxy substance that forms in the digestive tract of the whale around the indigestible horn pine of the squid. This is a slow process that will last for years. Luckily synthetic alternatives have been found for producing perfumes.
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Sperm whales, Bottlenose dolphins
Stenella
10:00 Sperm whales, Bottlenose dolphins
