Page 596 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles
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Dolphins and Whales
W ild Dolphins - These encounters can last 5 minutes, or 5 weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback
hours; it is up to the dolphins. You are in their world, on their has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and
terms. These dolphins have never been captive or fed. They are with a knobby head. An acrobatic animal known for breaching and slap-
you because they want to be. They have become accustomed to hu- ping the water with its tail and pectorals, it is popular with whale
mans cruising these beautiful waters and over the years. The num- watchers off the coasts of Australasia and the Americas. Males pro-
bers of dolphins can range from 2 to 50, you really never know. One duce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for
thing is for sure; each interaction is different and special in its own hours at a time. Its purpose is not clear, though it may have a role
way. It is an amazing feeling to “connect” with a dolphin, eye to eye. in mating. Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback
Many times there will be bottlenose dolphins mixed in with a pod of whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometers (16,000 mi) each
spotted dolphins. During your encounter you may see the dolphins year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate
feeding in the sand on razor wrasse and small flounders or chasing to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth in the win-
flying fish on the surface. You will see them interacting with each ter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves.
other as they are very family oriented and have very strong bonds Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have
within the pod. They rarely swim without touching one another a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net
with their pectoral fins. Touching is a very important form of com- feeding technique. Like other large whales, the humpback was and
munication among dolphins, young and old. It is their way of reaf- is a target for the whaling industry. Once hunted to the brink of ex-
firming their connections and love. tinction, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a moratori-
um was introduced in 1966. While stocks have since partially recov-
H umpback Whales - The humpback whale is a species of baleen ered, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise
whale. Adults range in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and pollution continue to impact the 80,000 humpbacks worldwide.
