WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BLACK SEA DOLPHINS?

Their fins are unique, like human fingerprints, and some of them can live up to 50 years. On the World Cetacean Day, together with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, we have prepared for you interesting facts about our unusual neighbors and will tell you how to behave with them in the Black Sea.

Did you know that:

🐬 There are 3 species of cetaceans living in the Black Sea. Common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin are dolphins, and the other – harbour porpoise. It is often confused with the adult dolphin cub. However, it is a small cetacean of the Fotsen family.

🐬 Bottlenose and common dolphins usually live 25-30 years, although sometimes bottlenose dolphins can reach 50 years of age.
Harbour porpoises live 7-10 years, and under favorable conditions up to 23 years.

🐬 Each dolphin has its own unique fin – like human fingerprints! This allows scientists to track their behavior. For example, scientists have found that some of the animals remain in one place for years, while others migrate for hundreds of kilometers.

🐬 Each species has its own manner of behavior. Bottlenose dolphins gather in groups of 50-1000 individuals and live in their favorite places for years. Common dolphins live in groups of up to 2,000 individuals and like to accompany ships. Harbour porpoises try not to come into contact with humans.

🐬 The length of the bottlenose dolphin can reach 3 meters and weigh – 400 kg. Common dolphins are smaller – their length reaches 2 m, and weight – 70-120 kg (almost like a human). The smallest – harbour porpoises – their length is 1.2 – 1.6 m, weight – 30-70 kg.

🐬 Cetaceans communicate with each other in their own unique language. With the help of ultrasound, they find each other and food.

In the modern world, these intelligent creatures are often in danger – poaching nets, life in dolphinariums, injuries, chemical poisoning, noise pollution.

We can help dolphins, all we have to do is:

🔷 not to chase them at sea;

🔷 not to support institutions that keep animals in captivity;

🔷 do not leave your litter in the environment and minimize the use of plastic things;

🔷 reduce your impact on chemical pollution of the sea: do not use sunscreen just before swimming, do not throw drugs into the sewer, prefer eco-friendly detergents.

If you see a dolphin thrown ashore, do not pass by it, but call specialists from UkrSCES 📞+38 (048) 263 6622. They will provide professional assistance to the animal.