26.09.2021 – Beam of light

Dolphins, mankind has been fascinated with these cetaceans since time immemorial. From the impressive dolphin art decorating Minoan ruins up to blockbusters like Flipper, dolphins easily dominate the limelight as one of the planets most impressive species. Research over the last decades has uncovered incredible discoveries about the intelligence and social lives of dolphins but the vast majority of discoveries surround one specific group of dolphins; the Tursiops or Bottlenose dolphins.

This is no enormous surprise since Bottlenose dolphins enjoy an incredibly wide distribution, with many group remaining in coastal areas where they often come into contact with humans. They are extremely clever and curious dolphins which makes them very approachable and therefore appealing to humans. Their adaptive nature has made them incredibly successful in the wild but unfortunately has also lead them to be the cetacean species most commonly kept in captivity. We have learnt much from both captive and wild Bottlenose dolphins, a knowledge which has helped us also understand other species. To quote a book I’m reading on the social lives of cetaceans: Our current picture of dolphin societies is a thin torch beam of light in a dark hall, a beam aimed at Flipper. We have much to learn. We do indeed.

The beam of light during our tour was also focused on a group of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) who saved the day after both our boats embarked on a long, hard search. The dolphins lifted their heads as they cut through the waves, making eye contact with all on board as they did so. Watching this, with that books quote in mind, I couldn’t help but think that over all these years perhaps these dolphins were also “studying” us. Understanding our behaviour may lead these clever creatures to becoming one of the more resilient animals of our oceans, if they aren’t already.

Whether these thoughts are completely absurd or partially true, I couldn’t help but have them. With all their fantastic traits, this is what dolphins do to you.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins