Spectacle at the begin of the season
by firmm Team
Text: Nina Bircher, volunteer for firmm, Photos: firmm
The season started with some rather bumpy tours, during which we were able to observe pilotwhales and bottlenose dolphins – the dolphins sometimes jumping and surfing in the waves at the bow of large cargoships. During the third tour we already met some animals, who we know very well: We saw pilotwhale Vicente and his family again and Lolly, a female bottlenose dolphin. They both are among the animals that can be adopted through firmm.
On the fourth tour the long anticipated first encounter with “problem child” Curro followed: He showed himself to us very close to the boat accompanied only by Fina and her calf, not by his usual school with Edu etc. Of course we were relieved to see him again after the winter months.
On the 2nd of April we planned three tours because of the good weather. We left the port under nice weather conditions at 13:00 and found the bottlenose dolphins again after a short time. On this day they were gathered in a much larger school: Probably about 120 to 150 animals were soon swimming near the firmm Spirit – this is rare, because usually we see bottlenose dolphins in groups of only about 15 to 20 individuals. Soon the boat was surrounded by dolphins. One didn`t know in which direction to look and they seemed to be in a very playful mood: Wherever we looked, there were dolphins jumping (sometimes several meters high), tailslapping or spyhopping – often right beside the boat.
Some rode on the waves at the bow and every now and then we heard the squeaks and cheers of the guests standing there, as they got splashed by the dolphins. The children commented every jump with an enthusiastic “ole”. During the second tour the spectacle continued. As the weather got better and better and the sea calmer, we were again able to observe the large school of bottlenose dolphins. The main group was socializing in the distance, again jumping and playing. Some animals were curious and swam right up to the boat, playing in the waves in front of the boat.The guests gathered there greatly enjoyed it. On the third tour of the day the dolphins seemed not to be tired at all. There were many calves jumping together with the adults from time to time – it looked as if they were practicing.
We were very pleased about observing some animals whom we have known for a long time: There was Lolly again, accompanied by her calf from last year and also Cutty showed herself directly in front of the boat. We are relieved, as they seem to have survived the winter quite well – even Lolly´s fungus doesn´t seem to have changed. Around 19:00 we arrived at the port of Tarifa for the last time of the day, deeply impressed and knowing that we probably won´t get to see such a show again any time soon.