Whales, dolphins and more! Marine Big 5 daily blog
Written by October 22 2020
Today the sun was shining all day long and we had a bit of wind from the south-east but great sightings at sea. Outside the harbour and passed Uilenkraalmond we spotted a few Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins swimming in the surf very close to shore. Further along the way we spotted the first Southern Right whales in Pearly Beach close to the coast, so we decided to continue to another cow-calf pair in slightly deeper waters and what a great sighting it was. The female was lifting her impressive fluke a couple of times out of the water. While busy observing the whales and taking some photographs we saw a Cape Fur seal approaching the boat accompanied by two Bottlenose dolphins, how lucky to see two different species of dolphins in one tour. Shortly after that we saw a Yellowtail moving closer but quickly got chased away by the Cape Fur seal. After seeing so many species in one spot we were happy to leave them behind and make a last stop in Shark Alley to see the Cape Fur seal colony.
What species did we see today?
Cape fur seal Cape fur seal
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
Southern Right Whale Southern Right Whale
Southern right whales attract thousands of visitors every year to experience these gentle giants off the South African coast.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Humpback dolphins are an endangered species, with small populations living very close to shore, typically in water less than 25m deep and an average home range of 120km. Their proximity to land makes these animals particularly vulnerable to human influence.
Bottlenose Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin
At present there are two recognized species of bottlenose dolphin, and in some cases, both species can be found in the same area. The two species are the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus). In addition, there is a great deal of variation in colouration, diet and behaviour. The difference between the common bottlenose and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin are subtle, but the common bottlenose dolphin generally larger and more robust with a slight darker colouration.
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.
