29.06.2021 – Students are learning from a dolphin

Today we had many spotters and captains on board. A school class from Madeira came out to sea with us. Together we looked out and found not just one but two Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), which were probably having a little chat. Curiously, one of these sea turtles poked its head out of the water to take a closer look at the students. The kids with their good eyesight discovered many Cory’s Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea), but they all sat very comfortably on the surface of the sea and took a little nap. However, no dolphins were seen on this morning trip.

The afternoon group of students learned firsthand from a dolphin. In our active group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one of the animals was busy with a piece of plastic. It was a game for him, but it can be extremely dangerous for this animal and other sea creatures. About 90% of the plastic waste that ends up in our oceans comes from land. Our rivers are resistant conveyor belts for the plastic. So, after all, it doesn’t matter where we live. Mindfulness with this consumable is of paramount importance. I think from this example of the day the students understood how important it is to recycle or, even better, to use less plastic overall. Afterwards, we saw a school of Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus).

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sighting of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Loggerhead turtle

14:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales