26.05.2023 – Greeting from a giant

Two days ago the sea was full of Bottlenose dolphins. Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) appeared to be on their way to a large conference this morning. Pilot whales everywhere, really everywhere, in between a few Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Pilot whales come in two forms. Long-finned pilot whales prefer cooler waters while Short-finned pilot whales like to stay in warmer regions. In the southern hemisphere, Pilot whales are found in all seas, while in the northern hemisphere they are only found in the Atlantic.

At noon we continued with Pilot whales. But we also saw a shark, a Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), a Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and far out a large Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Especially the largest of the toothed whales, the Sperm whale, was a special experience. The animal moved west, breathing powerfully and clearly. On board, the guests and crew watched the massive whale in awe and wonder. Then came the moment when the animal dived energetically into the depths. The huge tail was the last we saw of him. A salute from the giant before diving into the blue depths.

Here you will find the link to our petitions, where you can sign both the Japan/Taiji and Faroe Islands petition to do your part protecting Pilot whales. 

https://www.lobosonda.com/whale-watching/marine-protection/

von Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead turtle

13:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Shark, Loggerhead tutle, Blainville beaked whale, Pilot whales, Sperm whale