ANIMAL CURIOSITIES

Exceptional sperm whale sighting in San Remo

A group of sperm whales was spotted by researchers from the Tethys Institute off the coast of Portosole, in Sanremo (Italy).

The encounter was immediately classified as exceptional, mainly for two reasons: a family group with young ones was sighted and the sighting occurred at a time of year when situations of this type rarely occur. Sperm whale sightings in that stretch of sea are much more frequent towards the end of summer.

Although the sighting was instrumental in realising that that part of the sea is in good health, on the other hand it is worrying that one female of the group had her tail partly cut off, probably due to a collision with a boat.

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Images of the sperm whales sighting in Italy
A group of sperm whales was spotted by researchers from the Tethys Institute off Portosole, in Sanremo (Italy).
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A meeting considered exceptional
The encounter was from the outset classified as exceptional, mainly for two reasons: a family group with young ones was sighted and the sighting occurred at a time of year when situations of this type rarely occur. Sightings of sperm whales in that stretch of sea are much more frequent towards the end of summer.
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Problems for a female in the group
Although the sighting was instrumental in realising that this part of the sea is healthy, on the other hand, it is worrying that one female of the group had her tail partly cut off, probably due to a collision with a boat.
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A regulation that never came
Noticing that the female sperm whale had its tail cut off due to an alleged collision with a commercial vessel raised concern because there has never been effective regulation to protect cetaceans in that stretch of water.
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The questions being asked
The sighting of sperm whales in that stretch of Italian sea has imposed other questions on scholars. The question arises, for example, whether the fact that sperm whales have gone so far to feed and reproduce does not mean that there are no longer optimal conditions for these animals elsewhere.
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