07.10.2025 – It takes a village

Social is a word that is used abundantly for all species of cetaceans, the nature of those social interactions largely depends on the species. Here in Madeira, we often encounter species that are known to exist and thrive in stable family groups. These include the Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). In other words species females share the responsibility of the calves with the mother, caring for it and nursing it as often as required.

Pilot whales only engage in short speedy hunts (in comparison to those of the Sperm whales) so females babysit the calves at the surface in shifts. Sperm whales, on the other hand, often leave their calves all alone at the surface during their longer deep dives, which encourages the calf to engage in its own first attempts at some deep dives to keep track of its family in the deep sea. At the surface both species often use the time to rest and engage in social activities, which are an absolute joy to witness during an encounter. This morning our Stenella guests had the pleasure of watching two little calves play, an important component of their social lives at that stage.

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) also show cooperative behaviour when it comes to raising their calves but, unlike with the previously mentioned species, here the mother carries the main responsibility. Other females in the pod are willing to help, she plays the most decisive role in the education and care of her little one. With Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) the situation may be a mixture of the two; their tightly knit social structures probably allow even more cooperative behaviour amongst females than Bottlenose dolphins, but calves are almost always seen near their mothers.

The fact that it takes a village to raise a child seems to be a common characteristic among all social mammals, allowing the young to safely navigate through their lives with the bundled knowledge of their elder peers.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Short-finned pilot whales

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphin, Short-finned pilot whales, Sperm whales

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales, Sperm whales

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphin, Short-finned pilot whales, Sperm whales

16:30 Rough-toothed dolphin, Short-finned pilot whales, Sperm whales