What Do Israeli Sailor Daniel Pinski, Competing in a Race Around the World, and a Dolphin Spotted for Years Off Israel’s Coast Have in Common?
Two sightings about a month apart revealed that three familiar dolphins are still swimming together along Israel’s Mediterranean coast, from Ashkelon to Netanya. Two of them, known to Delphis researchers for years, have recently been given names: one after Israeli sailor Daniel Pinski, and the other in recognition of a research partnership with the Via Maris Sailing Club
Sometimes dolphins have long-standing friends, too - and even names with fascinating stories behind them.
Three common bottlenose dolphins, well known to researchers from the Delphis Association and Kadas Nexus – the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa – were recently spotted twice, about a month apart, at locations dozens of kilometers away from each other. The repeated encounter not only provided further evidence of the dolphins’ social bonds but also led to two of them receiving new names.
The first sighting took place on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a dolphin survey off the coast of Ashkelon, led by Dr. Aviad Scheinin, Head of the Apex Predator Research Program at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station and Co-CEO of the Delphis Association. Delphis volunteers Shlomi Marco and Dana Reininger also participated in the survey.
During the survey, the team encountered three common bottlenose dolphins already familiar to the researchers: Pinchas, dolphin No. 1502, and dolphin No. 1365, who, despite being known to researchers since 2019, had yet to receive a name.
But the story didn't end there.
Last Sunday (October 11), during a dolphin survey led by Delphis volunteer Meital Markovitz in collaboration with the Via Maris Sailing Club, the very same three dolphins were spotted again - this time off the coast of Netanya, approximately 5–6 miles offshore.
Friends for Years
Our researchers have known two of these three dolphins for many years. Pinchas was first documented in 2016 and was identified again in June 2024, following a four-year period during which researchers had not encountered him. Since then, he has been spotted relatively frequently off Israel's central coast.
His long-time companion, Pinski (dolphin No. 1365), was first documented in 2019, primarily in the waters between Herzliya and Jaffa. Over the years, he has frequently been observed swimming alongside Pinchas. The two most recent sightings, off Ashkelon and Wingate, provide further evidence of the enduring bond between them.
According to Dr. Aviad (Pinchas) Scheinin, after whom the dolphin Pinchas was named, male bottlenose dolphins form alliances that can sometimes last for many years.
"These friendships improve their chances of survival, help them find food, and give them an advantage when competing with other groups of males for mating opportunities," Dr. Scheinin explains.
How Do We Know They Are the Same Dolphins?
The ability to identify individual dolphins even after several years, and to track repeated encounters between them, is made possible through a technique known as photo-identification.
Researchers Yali Mevorach and Kim Kobo of the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station photograph and catalog the unique markings on the dolphins' dorsal fins. These distinctive features enable the research team to track their movements along Israel's coastline, study their social relationships, and understand how they use their marine habitat.
Another Dolphin Gets a Name - This Time in Honor of our Partners
In recognition of the successful ongoing collaboration with the Via Maris Sailing Club, and following repeated sightings of dolphin No. 1502, researchers at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station and Delphis decided this week to name him Via Maris, after the club.
The collaboration began at the initiative of researcher Kim Kovo shortly after the events of October 7, 2023, during an especially difficult period in Israel.
"This amazing marine mammal brought comfort and joy to many people during those terrible days," recalls Sylvia, a staff member at the Via Maris Sailing Club.
Naming the dolphin is also a tribute to the partnership between researchers, volunteers, and the maritime community - a collaboration that helps expand our understanding of the local dolphin population.
Nearly Three Decades of Knowing Dolphins Individually
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most frequently encountered dolphin species along Israel's Mediterranean coast.
Approximately 300 individual dolphins have been identified and are currently known to researchers from the Delphis Association and the University of Haifa, as part of a long-term research program that has been underway since the late 1990s.
The species is not considered threatened with extinction, and its Mediterranean subpopulation is classified as Least Concern.
The two recent sightings highlight the importance of continuous, long-term monitoring. Such research allows scientists not only to recognize the same individuals at different locations along the coast but also to examine the stability of their social bonds and changes in how they use their marine habitat.
And so, while Daniel Pinski sails toward an extraordinary maritime challenge, the dolphin that bears his name continues swimming through the Mediterranean, alongside his companions Pinchas and Via Maris.
A Reminder: Dolphins Are Wild Animals.
Although dolphins are often perceived as friendly toward humans, they are still wild animals and should not be approached.
Encountered a marine mammal? Keep your distance, ask bystanders to stay back, take photographs from a safe distance, and report the sighting to us.
At Delphis, we work to advance marine mammal research, conservation, and public awareness in Israel. Through scientific research, public education, and collaboration with maritime communities, we can all help create a safer environment for whales and dolphins.
One of the easiest ways to protect marine mammals along Israel's coast is to make your spare change count! Join Round Up for Good in support of Delphis, and every purchase you make with your credit card will be rounded up to the nearest shekel, with the spare change donated to marine mammal conservation in Israel.
Signing up takes just a minute, and the average monthly donation costs less than a cup of coffee!
Those who sign up for Round Up for Good during the coming month may receive complimentary tickets to a family activity at the Delphis Dolphin and Sea Center. Full details are available at the link.
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