Archive photo
Photo: Omer Armoza
2 dolphins born off Israel's coast during war
Naval researchers watching school of dolphins which regularly swims off Israel's coast discover two baby dolphins have joined group
The war in Lebanon and the rocket barrages in the north may have caused great concern among Israeli citizens, but a different kind of excitement was noted among the dolphins swimming off the coast of Israel.
Members of the Israel Marine Mammals Research and Assistance Center (IMMRAC) discovered on Wednesday that the school of dolphins swimming regularly near the Israeli coast has been joined by two baby dolphins, who were apparently born during the war.
A group comprised of nine Mediterranean dolphins, which may be up to 6 meters (19.68 feet) long, was spotted swimming about 6 kilometers (3.726 miles) off the Tel Aviv coast.
Miri Kalfa, the center's spokesperson, told Ynet that the IMMRAC researches were familiar with that school of dolphins and have been watching them for the past two years.
"The group swims regularly several kilometers off the Israeli coast, between Hadera and Ashkelon, and we 'visit' it every week," she said.
The close observation allows the researchers to distinguish between the dolphins through signs on their tails.
"To our surprise, this morning we discovered that two baby dolphins have joined the original group," she reported.
'Battles had no influence on them'
The researchers estimate that the baby dolphins were born about two months ago, during the war in Lebanon."Luckily, the pregnancies ended successfully in spite of the ongoing events. They seem healthy, and it appears that the battles and the increased naval activity had no influence on them. They are swimming alongside their parents and are learning how to hunt. They swam by the center's large fishing boar and ate fish we placed inside the net."
Kalfa estimates that the school of dolphins will stay off the Israeli coast also during the autumn and winter.
"The drop in the water's temperature does not influence the group," she said.
However, she had doubts regarding an encounter between the dolphins and human beings.
"It’s difficult to believe that people will run into them, as they swim far from the coast. Should there be an encounter, it is important to understand that this is the school's living space. If a person does not attack and approach them, they won't do a thing," she explained.
