These Capbretonnaises and Capbretonnais will not soon forget their trip to the sea. And rightly so, this Sunday, May 1, 2022, they exchanged an hour with a school of very talkative cetaceans. Back in photos from this unusual encounter.
For Itsas Arima, a local association committed to protecting the oceans, this meeting is part of the “top 5 craziest sightings with cetaceans”† This Sunday, May 1, Labor Day, the volunteers went on an excursion, less than 20 kilometers outside Capbreton, in the Landes. Goal ? Observe the dolphins of the region. And to their surprise, it was not a mammal, but a whole school emerging from the ocean.
The 80 sea creatures, including a very young one, felt confident and calmly approached the boat, as if to “trade” with the navigators. To communicate with the dolphins, the volunteers began to whistle for long minutes. In short, this discussion “surreal” lasted 60 minutes.
“Given our proximity, we try a little experiment and start a series of whistles to see if there is a response. The answer is not long in coming! They answer us and it even piques their curiosity, so we keep going for minutes and a kind of surreal verbal and non-verbal discussion takes place between our 2 species.
Itsas Arima
Here are some photos of their meeting and a video shared by France Blue †
The association Itsas Arima shared its reaction on its Facebook page:
In nearly 10 years of our existence, we’ve had crazy sightings of it with cetaceans in the region, but this one will definitely stay in our top 5! We decided to share this very emotional encounter with you for once from a less scientific point of view, but more from the feelings we had on board.
An early start, excellent visibility and vocalizations captured on the hydrophone allow us to reassure ourselves on a beautiful day of observation. Eyes on the horizon and a group of about 30 pilot whales charged in on our left. Far enough we decide to approach them. Long before we join them, the whole group decides to change direction and join us. Focused on this group, we do not immediately realize that other groups are approaching us from all sides. We don’t know where to look anymore. At least 80 people surround our boat at different distances. We turn off the engines and let them lead the dance. Males approach. Then a very young individual decides to get even closer. His mother and the males next to him let him do it, a sign of great confidence. Then each of us remains in peace for long minutes as we observe each other in mutual respect and share the present moment.
In all confidence we are then treated to a frenzied series of spy hopping and back swimming.
However, our biologist instincts take over and we find that this group has talked very little since we met. Given our proximity, we try a little experiment and start a series of whistles to see if there is a response. The answer is not long in coming! They answer us and it even piques their curiosity, so we keep going for minutes and a kind of surreal verbal and non-verbal discussion takes place between our 2 species.
The animals have absolutely no desire to leave us, but time is running out and it is time for us to say goodbye and thank you. With a gesture of our hand we indicate our intentions to them. And to my surprise, one of the males stands to the side and shakes his chest as if to impersonate us.
We, as enthusiasts, can only thank the ocean for such an encounter that shows its strength, its curiosity and its extreme kindness despite all that man can do about it. One thing is certain, this meeting will mark our volunteers on board. Point Science though: some individuals may already be part of our photo catalog.”
Bluff, no? By the way, did you know that all you need to do is play the flute to communicate with dolphins?