Albino dolphin – a rare sighting

Albino animals in the wild are rare. They are less able to blend into their surroundings and are therefore much more vulnerable to predators. They rarely reach adulthood. So we were very surprised and pleased to see an albino adult Rough-toothed dolphin in a pod of 15 individuals in south Tenerife.

The dolphins were in a sociable mood and as soon as they heard the ‘Cachalote’, SECAC’s  rib, they came over to see what we were and what we were doing. Good practice when carrying out research recommends either switching off your engine or keeping it in neutral while around dolphins and whales. With their sensitive sonar systems they can be easily disturbed by engine noises. However, as the dolphins milled around the boat I got the distinct impression that they wanted us to rev the engine and take off so that they could bow ride. Apparently Rough-toothed dolphins are more laid back than some of their more playful cousins, and bow riding and frolicking are not so common. But as these dolphins came within touching distance of the rib and eye-balled us it seemed as though they were saying ‘please, please play with us!’

While Antonella Servidio and Maria del Mar were working on their photo-identification, and Ernie was experimenting with their new underwater camera, in between taking photos myself, I had the time to marvel at the dolphins. For some inexplicable reason the Rough-tooth dolphin has something I find very appealing. Maybe it is the distinctive sloping shape of their heads; or maybe because they seem to have larger eyes than the dolphins we’ve seen to date, or that they often swim in long lines shoulder to shoulder, the babies well protected in the middle.

A striking coincidence

The first time we saw Rough-tooth dolphins was in Gran Canaria two years ago. The funny thing was that it too was a large pod, and in that pod was a young albino. My first thought was that this was the same pod, but I don’t think it is. What was then a juvenile dolphin would probably not be a mature adult by now. But it is a striking coincidence.

The dolphins stayed with us for about half an hour, and then slowly drifted off. Maybe we were not fun enough for them to stay longer! They went off and found a school of fish to play with. From a distance we saw some splashing and jumping, and the characteristic sea birds circling overhead and diving. You know that when you see this activity there are fish near the surface, often pushed there by dolphins, whales or other predators from below. We’ve seen huge numbers of dolphins and birds, clustered together, all jumping or diving after the same fish. How the birds don’t lose their toes or tails or get injured is amazing.

Squabbling and waddling

The birds were Cory’s Shearwaters, common in the Canary Islands but worldwide a protected species. They are a delight to watch. They dive bomb the poor fish from above, making a racket, and squabbling with their friends over the fish. While they soar over the sea they are the picture of elegance. But watching them take off from the water is another story! They turn into the wind, open their wings and with great effort waddle like ducks over the surface, flapping. After three or four clumsy steps with their orange legs, their necks stretched out as if willing themselves to move forward, they somehow manage to get airborne and are again in their element. I will never stop being amused by them.