03.10.2025 – The intelligence of empathy

All cetaceans are fascinating for many reasons but a feature that I, personally, find incredible is the ease at which many of them interact with other cetaceans that aren’t conspecifics. These mixed sightings of different species of cetaceans are rather frequent in places like Madeira, where the turnover of visitors is remarkable, and such sightings very often involve one species in particular: the Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

The species is known for this feature and the resident coastal ecotype population here in Madeira is faithful to this reputation. We often see them interacting with Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorynchus) a species that shares the same distribution…but that is almost all they have in common apart from the fact that they are both dolphins. While Bottlenose dolphins move in relatively loosely know structures, pilot whales are known for their stable family groups that are matriarchal in nature. This difference doesn’t stop the Bottlenose from seeking out an interaction, the only question is.. why?

We also encountered another species this morning that Bottlenose enjoy socialising with, the False Orcas (Pseudorca crassidens), large dolphins that even have the pilot whales cowering closer to the coastline. Yet the social Bottlenose have been observed adapting their swim behaviour and their vocalisations to those of these rare visitors here in Madeira.

Understanding and actively interacting with another species, even if you are in the same family, is quite the task. It requires intelligence but, above all, empathy. Many cetaceans manage this, while very few humans even tried. One of the few who did was the wonderful Jane Goodall, who sadly passed away this week. Jane showed the world that empathising with other creatures opens a new world of knowledge and adds depth to our perception of the natural world, we can only hope that her story will inspire more to do the same.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, False orcas, Short-finned pilot whales

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

16:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales