23.05.2022 – World Turtle Day

Today is World Turtle Day. This special day in honor of the tortoise was established to draw attention to the threat to the tortoise. Although these armored reptiles can live to be very old, they are in danger of extinction. In our blue office we also encounter turtles, sea turtles. The species we most often encounter in our waters is the Loggerhead turtle. Today, however, we had to be on the lookout for the honorary animal with extreme concentration. In the afternoon, we were lucky and were able to observe a Loggerhead turtle from a distance.

Sea turtles eat crabs, crabs and jellyfish, algae and seaweed. In fact, there are species that change their eating habits over the course of their lives. For example, the green sea turtle, which eat crabs, crabs and jellyfish when young, becomes a vegetarian in adult life.

Unfortunately, sea turtles also eat plastic, which they mistake for jellyfish. Over 80% of sea turtles have plastic in their bodies. A good reason to reflect on your own consumption of plastic on World Turtle Day.

Twice in the morning, we spot a pod of Short-beaked common dolphins and a sociable pod of the Atlantic spotted dolphins. In the afternoon, the active Spotted dolphins could be admired. They showed off their skills in hunting and bow surfing.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

14:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Loggerhead turtle

Stenella

10:00 Common dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins