LEAPS AND LAUGHTER: THE CHARM OF THE WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS
Throughout the last days, we have been lucky to encounter white-beaked dolphins on several of our departures. These smaller cousins of the whales are simply always adorable and their joy and playfulness overly contagious. Always on the move, these small cetaceans love to check out our boats, dive below or swim alongside our vessels while observing us as much as we watch them.
The white-beaked dolphins are one of very few dolphin species that actually live so far north and call the cold waters of the North Atlantic their home. The reason they don’t mind these cold temperatures here? About 30% of their body is made of blubber (a fat layer) that keeps these animals warm. Also, they are quite big for dolphins as they grow up 3 metres long while weighing up to 300 kg. Unlike other dolphin species, white-beaked dolphins travel in rather small groups, so-called pods, of between five and twenty individuals. They generally have strong long-lasting social bonds among the members of a pod, while at the same time they might form short term bonds with other individuals from different pods in the area.
So next time you stand by the coast and spot a playful splash in the distance, it might just be the white-beaked dolphin, bringing a little extra joy to the sea! But why not head out onto the bay and have a closer look?
- Sarah
Photos by Diana Almeida
