23.11.2024 – Calm before the storm

Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were seen on both trips today. In the morning, different groups rested on a smooth sea. It was very pleasant to enjoy the calm that lay over the morning before the storm reached Madeira. In the afternoon, the animals were still resting off Calheta.

Deep divers, such as Pilot whales, are unfortunately more frequently affected by strandings. Pilot whales strand for various reasons. Diseases such as parasite infestations or infections can impair the animals’ navigation. Disturbances caused by human activities, such as sonar or ship noise, can also disrupt the whales’ orientation system. It is also suspected that geomagnetic anomalies on coastal stretches lead whales astray. Such strandings are not only tragic, but also difficult to predict. Beaches known for mass strandings are often located in shallow waters with gently sloping coasts. Here, at low tide, the animals quickly lose the necessary draught to swim back into the sea. When mass strandings are reported, they are often pilot whales. Their strong sense of belonging can be their downfall, as many animals return to their conspecifics out of solidarity or die due to stress and injury.

This is why these wonderful animals need to be protected: https://www.lobosonda.com/marine-protection/

by Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Pilot whales

13:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins