ARCHIVED - Whale and dolphin sightings increase during the coronavirus lockdown!

Decreased human activity at sea may lead to marine mammals being less timid

There have been numerous reports all over Spain of sightings of wild animals becoming far more common in built-up areas during the coronavirus lockdown, with the empty streets and parks attracting inquisitive and hungry boar, deer, foxes and other species which normally live in rural areas, and it appears that the reduction of human activity at sea is also having a similar effect along the Mediterranean coastline.

#ALMERÍA | Delfines protagonizan unas espectaculares imágenes captadas por el Servicio Marítimo de la Guardia Civil en Cabo de Gata, Almería 😊👌 pic.twitter.com/m3pfvvyANH

— AMBIENTE EUROPEO (@ambienteeuropeo) April 15, 2020

The ONG Xaloc organization has received around 100 videos shot from the windows and balconies of members of the public shut in their homes during the state of emergency, showing whales, dolphins, turtles and other marine species enjoying the relatively quiet coastal waters over the last few weeks. Most of the sightings have been in the Comunidad Valenciana - particularly near Denia in the province of Alicante, which is favoured by some whale species as part of their migratory route – but the phenomenon also extends to the Region of Murcia and those of Catalunya, Andalucía and the Balearics as well as the Canary Islands.

Dolphins showing up near beaches @barcelona 😍

Seems the virus is not all bad things, nature reclaiming space🙏❤️#barcelona #Covid19 #dolphins https://t.co/d8M1Qy1yP6

— Dendorion (@Dendorion) April 18, 2020

Among the videos received from members of the public are images showing marine mammals at the beach of La Malagueta in Málaga, approximately 50 dolphins at Benicarló and three fin whales close to the shore in Gibraltar, while pods of dolphins have been sighted in the port of Barcelona.

This is a particularly important time of year for whale sightings in Spain as it is during May that the fin whales – the second largest animal in the world – begin their migration along the coast of Valencia towards the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic. This year it is thought that the reduced level of noise pollution may have made them less reluctant than usual to surface close to the coastline.

Fin whales are the second largest animal in the world and can reach a length of 27 metres but in “normal” years sightings are rare in Murcia. However, last year they were seen off the coast of Cartagena and Mazarrón, and five sightings were reported near Cabo de Palos.

Image: Archive

Remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

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What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!