Page 260 - Melanesia

Dolphins and Whales

W ild Dolphins - These encounters within the pod. They rarely swim without may have a role in mating. Found in oceans
can last 5 minutes, or 5 hours; it touching one another with their pectoral and seas around the world, humpback
whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilo-
is up to the dolphins. You are in their fins. Touching is a very important form of meters (16,000 mi) each year. Humpbacks
feed only in summer, in polar waters, and
world, on their terms. These dolphins have communication among dolphins, young migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to
breed and give birth in the winter. Dur-
never been captive or fed. They are with and old. It is their way of reaffirming their ing the winter, humpbacks fast and live off
their fat reserves. Their diet consists mostly
you because they want to be. They have connections and love. of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a
diverse repertoire of feeding methods, in-
become accustomed to humans cruising H umpback Whales - The humpback cluding the bubble net feeding technique.
these beautiful waters and over the years. whale is a species of baleen whale. Like other large whales, the humpback was
The numbers of dolphins can range from 2 and is a target for the whaling industry.
Once hunted to the brink of extinction, its
to 50, you really never know. One thing is Adults range in length from 12–16 metres population fell by an estimated 90% before
a moratorium was introduced in 1966.
for sure; each interaction is different and (39–52 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 While stocks have since partially recovered,
entanglement in fishing gear, collisions
special in its own way. It is an amazing kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has with ships, and noise pollution continue to
impact the 80,000 humpbacks worldwide.
feeling to “connect” with a dolphin, eye to a distinctive body shape, with unusually

eye. Many times there will be bottlenose long pectoral fins and a knobby head. An

dolphins mixed in with a pod of spotted acrobatic animal known for breaching and

dolphins. During your encounter you may slapping the water with its tail and pecto-

see the dolphins feeding in the sand on rals, it is popular with whale watchers off

razor wrasse and small flounders or chasing the coasts of Australasia and the Americas.

flying fish on the surface. You will see them Males produce a complex song lasting 10

interacting with each other as they are very to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours

family oriented and have very strong bonds at a time. Its purpose is not clear, though it