A large pod of dolphins was recorded behaving aggressively towards dolphins of a different species
- delphisisrael
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
The Delphis Association team documented the event during a marine survey, as part of the association's long-term dolphin research and the University of Haifa. At least six of the dolphins have been identified so far. Dr. Aviad scheinin: "This is the first time the common dolphin has been seen 10 km from the coast. We are detecting a change in the behavior of the common dolphins that live in the southern region."
An extraordinary observation as part of a marine survey by the Delphis Association off the coast of Ashkelon revealed fascinating behavior among dolphins: During the research cruise, a pod of no less than 20 common dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was observed exhibiting aggressive behavior, including persecution and sexual activity - both between individuals in the same pod and towards dolphins of another species - the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), which is classified as endangered in the Mediterranean Sea.
The survey cruise set off on a Sail La Vie Club yacht led by Dr. Aviad Sheinin, director of the Dolphin and Sea Center at Delphis and head of the superpredator division at the Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa, as part of Delphis and the University of Haifa's long-term research on local dolphin populations. The team also included volunteers from the association, who documented the unique event for about three and a half hours - above and below the surface of the water.
According to Dr. scheinin, the observation began with the recording of a group of mothers and calves that joined several groups that also included young males, and continued with the recording of chases of common dolphins that appeared later - an unusual spectacle that raises scientific questions about dynamics among marine mammals.
"A few minutes after setting out to sea, we encountered a pod of common dolphins, numbering about eight individuals. The dolphins swam westward and were soon joined by other dolphins, with their peak number reaching 20!" he said. "At first they were resting, and then we detected social behavior, which included, among other things, chasing. About six miles from shore, we suddenly saw a common dolphin swimming away quickly and jumping, with several common dolphins chasing it. Later, we also detected aggressive behavior and dolphins chasing about three common dolphins."
Dr. scheinin added that this is the first time the common dolphin has been seen about ten kilometers from shore. "We are detecting a change in the behavior of the dolphins that are members of the 'home pod' - the southern pod of the common dolphin."
Dr. scheinin: "About six miles from shore, we suddenly saw a common dolphin swimming away quickly and jumping, with several common dolphins chasing it."
At least six dolphins were identified by researchers
At the end of the survey, Dr. Aviad scheinin passed the photographs to Kim Kobo, a researcher at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station of the Czerny School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa, who is responsible for the identifying catalog of dolphins in Israel. This was for the purpose of comparing the dorsal fin photos taken during the observation with the photos of the dolphins known to the researchers and appearing in the catalog. Kobo has so far identified six of the dolphins, including two that have not yet been given names and are "satisfied" with the numbers: 1368 and 1496, and four known as "Beagle", "Ruffy" (who was observed in the survey by Goor), "Rafkaya" and "Shlomi". The latter has recently been observed with great frequency by the Delfis team - both in the southern region and off the coast of Tel Aviv.
Delphis emphasized that this sighting illustrates the need for ongoing research into dolphin populations in Israel and the importance of protecting marine mammals and their habitats. Delphis calls on the public to join conservation efforts and encourages reporting sightings
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