16.06.2023 – Plastic toys

The Atlantic Ocean seemed like a vast, placid lake today and was full of surprises for our team. In the morning our boats managed sightings with a few Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), a curious pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and, further offshore, our spotter also just managed to lead our team to a group of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), who were peacefully travelling west.

We began the afternoon tours with no news of a potential sighting from our spotter. As we drove west, our Ribeira Brava suddenly stumbled upon a group of Bottlenose dolphins that were swimming through debris, both plastic and organic, that was likely swept into the ocean by the recent storm Oscar. 

As the animals gently swam through the debris and accompanied our boat, all four individuals each chose a piece of plastic that they played with for the consecutive duration of our tour. The animals breached and leapt with their “plastic toys” and dragged them on their dorsal and tail fin. 

While it’s never positive to see marine life interact with plastic waste, bottlenose are one of the few members of the animal kingdom that has been documented to use tools and play with random objects, and this was a fun characteristic to get a glimpse of! After our time with the Bottlenose, we were surprised by a small pod of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) that curiously approached our boat, so that all features could be fully appreciated! Both species wrapped up the day during the late afternoon tour and this beautiful and educational day out on the Atlantic. 

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:30 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:30 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins

16:00 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins