31.07.2023 – Lesson

Today there was a special lesson in the morning! Yes, even baby dolphins have lessons! We were allowed to be there live today when the small Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) received special training in the kindergarten group. They practiced bow surfing and did a great job. How skillfully they already glided along next to their mama. Dolphins have a wonderful, playful way of learning all the necessary skills of life. Sometimes I wish that the human children at school were also prepared for life in this way.

In the evening we encountered the Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Some animals were quite active at first, but then all the animals got together and it became calm and relaxed. There are also female teachers for Bottlenose dolphins. The Bottlenose dolphins in Australia, which have to find their prey in the coral reefs, adapt to the conditions there. Coral reefs have sharp edges. A dolphin could injure itself. But they are smart and are able to use “tools” to assist you. In this case, they use sponges to protect their beaks when searching for prey. Only the females pass this clever technique on to the next generation.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Sperm whales

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins