Pod of Short-Finned Pilot Whales Sighted Off Hualien Coast, 3 Months Earlier Than Last Year

(CNA, Hualien, May 21, by reporter Chang Chi) A rare pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales appeared off the coast of Hualien Port today, three months earlier than their appearance last year. A whale-watching boat observed wild behaviors such as mother-calf pairs traveling together and "spyhopping," and has photographed the individuals' dorsal fins to identify if they have previously visited the Hualien sea area. Dolphin & Whale Watching said that when its 8:30 AM tour departed, it first encountered spinner dolphins. On the return trip, it spotted about 8 short-finned pilot whales, and upon sailing not far from the mouth of Hualien Port, it witnessed a massive pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales. Captain Lo Jen-tse of Dolphin & Whale Watching stated that this group of pilot whales was moving slowly, surfacing and spouting as a group. Some individuals remained at the surface for longer periods, appearing to be resting. The tour operator noted that observations revealed noticeably smaller calves sticking close to their mothers within the pod. Some individuals vertically lifted their heads out of the water in a "spyhopping" behavior, presumably to observe the surrounding sea and the boat's movements. According to Dolphin & Whale Watching's historical tour records, short-finned pilot whales are not a commonly sighted species in the Hualien sea area. Last year, they were sighted on only 6 tours, with an annual sighting rate of about 0.8%. While last year's first appearance was in August, this year a sizable pod has arrived as early as late May, with stable sightings on two consecutive tours. Dolphin & Whale Watching explained that short-finned pilot whales belong to the Delphinidae family of the toothed whale suborder. Adult individuals are about 4 to 6 meters long and weigh about 3 tons. They have a robust, rounded body, a prominent forehead, a low and wide dorsal fin, and are mostly dark gray to black. They are highly social cetaceans, often moving in family groups. The operator added that short-finned pilot whales primarily feed on cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and often frequent deeper waters. Their appearance demonstrates the special topographical condition of the eastern coast, where deep sea is close to the shore, showcasing the ecological potential of the area as a corridor for oceanic cetaceans. The Dolphin & Whale Watching team conducted Photo-ID dorsal fin photography on-site. The images will be compared with historical data to clarify if these individuals have appeared in Hualien waters before, continuing to build the ecological record of cetaceans off the Hualien coast. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150521