Maldives Dolphin ID Project: 2024-2025
Check out the project page first, for a background of the types of dolphins (and other Cetacean species) sighted in the Maldives, and enjoy our updated diary entries and photos, below.
![marine biology internship Maldives Matt (14) dolphins [1080]](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Marine-Savers-pod-of-pilot-whales-KH-2024.03-1920.jpg "Marine Savers pod of pilot whales [KH 2024.03] [1920]")
Pilot whales … serenely beautiful 📷 aerial drone, Kuda Huraa (2024)
Dolphin Diary 2024
JANUARY 2024
At Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru during January, we conducted 10 spotting excursions, and sighted 255 Spinners plus four pods of Bottlenose and one pod of Risso’s dolphins, in encounters averaging 22 minutes duration. We have uploaded our ID photos for later analysis.
At Kuda Huraa this month, we conducted 14 dolphin cruises and will be processing our ID photos in the coming weeks. As part of our project studying dolphin-boat interactions, we are actively reaching out to other dolphin-spotting vessels, to encourage standardised behaviours that will better serve both tourists and dolphins. We have recorded instances of “bad boat” behaviours (e.g. rushing, milling) that lead to avoidance by dolphin pods, so we promote slow-paced encounters with minimal engine revving.
‘Dolphin Evasiveness’ Study
At Kuda Huraa, we have started a new research project in conjunction with our Reefscapers colleagues at Sheraton Maldives (also located in North Malé Atoll). Our ‘Dolphin Evasiveness’ study will collect data on specific parameters regarding boat conduct and dolphin evasiveness.
The presence of dolphin-spotting boats can have a significant impact on the social and feeding behaviours of dolphins. With the increasing numbers of boats that we encounter that are surrounding and following a single dolphin pod, the pods can become defensive and alter their social activity.
We plan to collect data on the behaviour of dolphins when they are in close proximity to boats, and we will analyse their behaviours (for example: longer diving, sudden change in direction, tail slapping near boats).
We hope to find quantitative evidence to support our hypothesis that boats do adversely influence natural dolphin behaviours. We then plan to develop new guidelines for boat conduct in the Maldives, to help restore more natural behaviours in dolphin pods, and to reduce the chance of injury from boat propellers.
We are continuing our quantitative study on dolphin behaviours by recording a ‘Social Index’ of observed social activities.
Our ‘Bad Boat Index’ records any boat conduct that could potentially affect the social behaviour of dolphins, causing them to become more evasive:
- milling – turning in response to dolphins
- rushing – quickly accelerating towards a pod
- charging – driving through the centre of a pod
- circling – ‘donut-ing’ the pod to create waves
FEBRUARY
At Landaa during February, we sighted 311 Spinners plus nine Bottlenose, across nine guest excursions.
At Kuda Huraa this month, we held 17 dolphin cruises and sighted Spinners in pods of up to 300 individuals.
The characteristic spinning behaviours in cetaceans is often seen as playful, but it’s thought that rotating actions might help to rid any annoying suckerfish and body parasites.
MARCH
At Landaa during March, we conducted 12 excursions with 79 guests, and recorded 470 Spinners, mainly around Reethi Beach Lagoon. One dolphin cruise to Voavah also sighted a reef manta ray (Mobula birostris), and an individual manta was spotted feeding on Landaa House Reef during the last week of the month.
APRIL
At Landaa we conducted 11 Dolphin Cruises during April, encountering Spinners and Bottlenose dolphins, plus a small pod of 6 Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) basking at the surface close to Landaa.
Cetaceans Of Malé: Behaviours of Odontocetes (‘toothed whales’)
🗓️ During the first four months of the year, our Kuda Huraa team guided 58 dolphin cruise excursions, accompanying 632 guests encountering 4 cetacean species. An estimated 6,300 spinner dolphins were sighted in the vicinity of the Resort during this period, along with more elusive Odontocetes including bottlenose dolphins (visiting our team on the House Reef) and small pods of pilot whales (migrating northward along the Eastern boundary of the atoll).
Interactions with wild megafauna are always exciting experiences, but it’s sadly quite common to witness other boats behaving poorly (moving to close to and speeding through pods, scaring the dolphins away). The need for national dolphin-watching regulations becomes more evident, especially speed limits and maximum number of boats per pod. To this end, our team is in the process of contacting relevant stakeholders to promote respectful encounters.
Where Is Home? Spinner – Bottlenose – Pilot – Risso’s
🐬 Studies into cetacean spatial ecology reveal how behaviourally distant some species are from each other. Data from our dolphin cruises provides small-scale insights within the context of North Malé Atoll here in the Maldives. Resident small-sized dolphins like spinners (Stenella longirostris) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) repeatedly visit the same reefs and foraging grounds. Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and shortfin pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), however, are only ever sighted in deeper waters and (in the first months of the year) travelling North.
🕑 Spending long hours at sea has allowed our team to witness a variety of behaviours, from the common jumping and ‘head-slapping’, to the rare ‘spy-hopping’ by curious pilot whales. Most notably, Risso’s dolphins were observed repeatedly jumping and breaching, giving us valuable insights into this elusive species, which is otherwise considered shy and evasive. Observing natural behaviour in wild undisturbed pods will also be crucial in assessing the effect of boat traffic on their activities and patterns of movement.
📝 Out of 134 spinner dolphin individuals uniquely identified so far this year, only approximately 20% were classified as first sightings. This reinforces the high sight fidelity and philopatry (returning to the same area/s) of spinners, further highlighting the need for local protection measures.
MAY 2024
At Landaa, the inclement weather conditions allowed only 9 dolphin cruises, and resulted in low sightings rates (choppy waves make fin-spotting more difficult). The total number of sightings was boosted thanks to a single large pod of over 200 Spinners (Stenella longirostris). Another trip observed two small pods of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) including a young calf, plus a pod of Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) was encountered on a private excursion.
At Kuda Huraa, the seasonal May monsoonal rains gave our marine biologists time to focus on the analysis of cetacean photographs taken on board dolphin cruises. Photo identification is widely employed within marine mammal research to identify and monitor individuals based on photographs. In many cases, especially at a young age, dorsal fins have a smooth outline. Over the course of time, however, intraspecific interactions cause an alteration of this outline, making each fin unique and distinguishable. Since these markings are permanent, the use of photo ID allows us to gain insights on pod social structure and movement ecology over extended periods of time.
580+ individuals have been identified and named since 2018, across 5 species. Among these, the most commonly observed are the resident spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), with the most resighted individual being ‘Circle’ (SL135), photographed 34 times over the years!
In the past month, short fin pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) stole the spotlight. Grinch, Frank and Nunis were the first 3 pilot whales to be added to our database, and belong to the same pod. Their latest sighting earlier this month marks the 3rd time being spotted together over the course of 6 years. This encounter highlights the already known stability of matrilineal pilot whale pods, and suggests that a very precise migration route might exist for them along the shores of Kuda Huraa. This underlines the need for cetacean protective measures, specifically controlling boat traffic along the busy routes of Kaafu Atoll.
JUNE
At Landaa, we conducted 11 Dolphin Cruises at Landaa; we recorded 340 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) plus a small pod of 6 Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus). On our trip for the Baa schools internship, we encountered both a sociable pod of 25 spinners and a reef manta ray (Mobula birostris) cruising along the fringing reef of Voavah sandbank.
At Kuda Huraa, a total of 70 guests enjoyed 13 excursions. As our cetacean data collection continues, more individual dolphins are added to our ID database. This month, we identified our 100th bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) recognizable by the unique outline of its dorsal fin. This adult belonged to a pod of around 40 individuals, among which 5 more dolphins were identified and added to our database. Sadly, the same pod included one individual with a chopped dorsal fin (likely as a result of a boat strike).
These new additions to our database are significant as bottlenose dolphins are only rarely sighted in Malé Atoll and their movement ecology is not well known. Adding more individuals to our database increases the likelihood of future resightings, shining a light on potential residency patterns of this species.
JULY
Over the 13 Dolphin Cruises which took place this month out of Landaa, we recorded 400 Spinners plus 2 pods of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) both sighted just off Landaa.
We recorded 1400 dolphins in waters surrounding Kuda Huraa, across 16 dolphin cruises and 6 snorkelling trips. Among these, photographic data analysis revealed resightings for 45 spinners, and allowed for the identification of 1 new individual (“Rectangle”, SL386). Interestingly, 3 individuals were sighted numerous times in a short time interval and in the same pod, showing this species’ tendency to visit certain areas quite consistently and maintaining strong social bonds: Doja (SL241) sighted 5 times; Circle (SL135) sighted 4 times; Triangle (SL134) sighted 3 times.
Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are commonly seen in deep waters outside of Faafu Atoll, as they migrate Northward during the months of April and May. Unexpectedly, this months’ calm waters made it possible for us to witness a Southward movement of the species on 3 distinct occasions, providing insights into the spatial ecology of this charismatic species and highlighting the importance of this area for the seasonal movements of these large Odontocetes.
Multiple sightings of ‘Circle’ in 2024
Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
AUGUST
At Landaa, we conducted 9 Dolphin Cruises, enjoyed by 167 guests in total. We recorded sightings of 282 dolphins, mainly Spinners but including 2 small pods of Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus).
CETACEANS OF MALE’ ATOLL
Over the second quadrimester of the year (May-Aug), our Kuda Huraa team guided 40+ dolphin cruise excursions, accompanying more than 400 guests on the discovery of cetacean species. While these cruises are the perfect opportunity to educate our guests about the beauty and importance of these iconic animals, they also provide key information on the demographics of dolphin population, thanks to our photo-identification program. A single picture of the dorsal fin allows us to identify a dolphin and find out if it is a new individual or a resighted dolphin.
A total of 103 spinner dolphins have been uniquely identified so far in 2024, and many of these individuals have been re-sighted this year. An estimated 11,000 spinner dolphins, by far the most commonly spotted species, were sighted in the vicinity of the resort since the beginning of the year.
Circle was identified for the first time on 12 December 2018. Since then, he has been sighted 40 times – including a record of 17 times so far in this year alone! [photo, above]
Avoidant Dolphin Behaviour: How Cetaceans react to boat movements
While taking pictures for our photo-identification programme, we also monitor the behaviour of the dolphin’s pod, the movements of boats, and the response of the pod to these boats. Over the course of the past 18 months, whilst continuing our cetacean photo identification, we have also collected extensive data on the pod dynamics, behaviours, and dolphin-boat relationships. Through preliminary analysis, we have been able to identify positive correlations between the number and behaviour of boats present at dolphin sites, and the actively avoidant behaviour of those dolphins.
Increases in dive duration and dive depth, alterations to cetaceans’ speed and direction as well as confrontational communicative behaviours, such as tail-slapping, have all been observed in areas of high vessel traffic or cetacean-viewing hotspots. Further analysis will continue to be conducted over the next month in an effort to better understand the complex behavioural traits of Maldivian cetaceans. This information will faciliate the future development of resources, which will not only protect vulnerable marine species, but also create a more sustainable and satisfactory guest experience.
Recording dolphin behaviours
… and boat-avoidance
SEPTEMBER
At Landaa this month, we conducted nine Dolphin Cruises and recorded sightings of 282 individual dolphins, mainly Spinners, plus two small pods of three Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus). Geographical distribution of encountered pods was centred mainly on Voavah, with three pods spotted near Landaa, one by Kamadhoo and an additional pod by Bathalaa beyond Voavah. One trip visited Reethi Beach Lagoon, but no cetaceans were seen on this trip.
CETACEANS OF MALE’ ATOLL
At Kuda Huraa, our marine biologists are gathering insightful new data about the resident population of Spinners dolphins (Stenella longirostris). Interestingly, certain pods are a mix of frequently-sighted individuals alongside newly-identified dolphins, raising questions regarding the social structure of these Cetaceans. Are these new dolphins coming from other pods, or have they always been part of the pod and difficult to spot? (Perhaps due to swimming behviours?) Is a “first ID” a good enough reason to believe we are factually spotting said dolphin for the first time?
Let’s take a better look at some of our recent sightings:
Confirmation Bias
Photographic data confirms the occurrence of specific individuals in a spatial-temporal frame (e.g. “Circle” was present in location X at date and time Y). In this example, 4 dolphins are reported, some being spotted more frequently, others less.
Intuitively, one could argue that “Circle” and “Doja” are resident individuals, while “Gribble” might be an occasional visitor of North Male waters. Lastly, “Pat” is a newly identified dolphin and might have only recently joined the pod.
A different interpretation of the same data could tell a whole other story: the reported ID-shots display how the more frequently sighted specimens are usually displaying more heavily indented dorsal fins. It is possible, therefore, for all 4 dolphins to have long-belonged to the same pod, and that their frequency of sighting is correlated to fin outline roughness, with lightly indented fins needing better pictures for clear identification.
Many narratives (subjective) fit the data (objective). In the context of this dataset it is therefore important to note that the observation of an individual marks its presence. Simultaneously, the non-sighting of a specific dolphin does not prove its absence. Considering these insights is important to limit the free interpretation of factual events, which could lead to proving or disproving a thesis according to ones perception, incurring in confirmation bias.
Dolphins & Boats
North male atoll is the most visited in the Maldives, and significant boat traffic is present in the area. As a consequence, Cetacean watching excursions are conducted by a number of resorts, guest houses and other stakeholders, with occasional fleets of up to 15 boats gathering in search of dolphins. Preliminary results from our data analysis show a correlation between the number of boats in an area and the avoidant behaviour of dolphins. This can lead to higher energy expenditure for the affected pod, reducing their overall fitness.
Boat Strikes
A high volume of boats can also have direct physical impacts on cetaceans, where careless, fast moving boats may collide with dolphins, causing them harm. During one of our dolphin cruises, an adult spinner was spotted with an extensively damaged dorsal fin. Such injuries may occur as a result of boat strikes. Wounds affecting different body parts can lead to varying consequences, from superficial scarring to death in cases of head trauma.
Marine Debris
Large quantities of marine debris drift through Maldivian atolls. Animal entanglement is not an uncommon sight, as documented by our turtle biologists. This month, a Bottlenose dolphin was observed breaching, with plastic tangled around its keel and fluke. Over time, this debris could harm the individual, cause infections or permanent damage. Regulating these issues is important for sustainable tourism practices, and a safer future for marine biodiversity.
OCTOBER
At Landaa this month, we conducted 12 trips accompanied by 114 guests. Unfortunately,we only sighted a total of 40 cetaceans, although we did have an exciting surprise encounter with a reef manta (Mobula alfredi) in Reethi Beach Lagoon.
CETACEANS OF MALE’ ATOLL
Species Identification
Data collected on our dolphin cruises contributes to advancing our understanding of each species’ patterns of movement and occurrence. For this reason, correct identification of the sighted Cetaceans plays an important role in order to avoid associating a taxonomic group with a behavioral or ecological attribute that does not pertain them. Species recognition can be an easy task when discerning between the big Mysticetes and the usually smaller Odontocetes. Specifically, most species found in waters near Kuda Huraa (namely Risso’s dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, and spinner dolphins) are characterized by distinctive shape, size, and coloration. More closely related taxa, however, typically share some morphological traits, and when the observed individuals exhibit elusive behavior, identifying the sighting to species level can become a true challenge.
Bottlenose Dolphins
Maldivian waters are home to 23 Cetacean taxa, including 2 bottlenose dolphin species. Populations sighted in past years had always been reported in our database as the ‘common bottlenose’ (Tursiops truncatus), and had always been shy and elusive, only allowing our marine biologists to collect a limited number of dorsal fin ID-shots.
This month, in a very rare sighting, we were able to document some individuals engaging in courtship, which includes males exhibiting behavioral dominance through jumps and headbutting females. This unique acrobatic behaviour enabled us to snap some good quality photos, making it possible to identify the population as belonging to the ‘Indo-Pacific bottlenose’ species (Tursiops aduncus). This species can be distinguished from its close relatives thanks to the presence of belly “freckles”, a relatively longer rostrum, straighter dorsal fin, and smaller body size.
Photo-ID analysis will soon provide further insights: should some of these dolphins have been spotted before, there would be a chance to re-identify previously-named individuals, further highlighting the great use that non-invasive research methods such as photography can have.
Sexual Dimorphism
Photography can be a powerful research tool especially when capturing images of unique individuals, allowing scientists to recognize and monitor them over decades. As discussed in previous reports, the most important data collected as photographic evidence at Kuda Huraa is the fingerprint-like outline of the dorsal fin of Cetaceans. However, lucky (or skillful) shots allow us to dive deeper into the life history of specific individuals, even showing us whether we are encountering males or females:
In female dolphins UROGENITAL and ANAL slits are in continuity. 2 small MAMMARY slits are present UROGENITAL and ANAL slits are separated in male individuals.
Parasites
Photographic records can also be helpful to gather information on the types of parasites that target dolphins. The occurrence of a parasitic species can be confirmed via direct or indirect observations. Remoras, for instance, are often spotted attached to the body of spinning individuals. Cookie-cutter sharks, on the other hand, are never directly sighted, but the cookie-shaped wound they inflict into dolphins’ skin is a occasionally seen.
The cookie cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) is a specialised ‘ambush predator’, adapted to biting chunks of flesh from their hosts who wouldn’t normally see them as a threat. Bites from their circular mouths leave crater-like wounds behind. These sharks are what’s known as ‘facultative ectoparasites’, meaning they are parasitic but do not rely on a host for the entirety of their life cycle. They can also catch whole prey, such as squid and copepods. Cookie cutter sharks have been known to take bites out of many different species, including pinnipeds, rays, sharks, bony fish, many different species of cetaceans, and have even been recorded taking bites out of humans.
NOVEMBER
Short-finned Pilot Whales
Among the Cetaceans that swim along North Malé Atoll, short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are certainly one of the rarest. These large Odontocetes are sighted only a handful of times each year, typically in the month of April. At this time of year they are seen travelling Northward, contrarily to the occasional November encounters where they are observed travelling towards more southern Maldivian atolls. While the drivers of these seasonal patterns of movement remain unknown, the punctuality of these toothed whales remains impressive! Notably, late-year sightings from the previous year were recorded on 14 and 16 November. In November this year, we sighted 2 pods on our dolphin cruises on the same exact dates as last year! Unfortunately, injuries were visible on the dorsal fin and body of 2 juveniles, potentially from interaction with vessels. A third pod was sighted by our Resort colleagues in Recreation on the 28 November.
Identification Project
With the objective to better understand the movement ecology of this charismatic species in the Maldives, our team have been conducting a pilot whale ID project. Using the distinct shape, size, and notches of dorsal fins as a fingerprint-like feature, we have been able to assess whether the recently spotted individuals had already been sighted in previous years. Interestingly, almost all (13) individuals recorded had not been sighted before, except for two: Sully (GM028, 3 sightings) and Grinch (GM001, 6 sightings). Grinch was our first ever identified pilot whale in November 2018, and has been regularly spotted swimming through local waters in subsequent years.
DECEMBER
At Landaa, we conducted 9 cruises enjoyed by 71 guests, and recorded sightings of 520 spinners + 2 bottlenose dolphins.
December brought lots of cetacean sightings to Kuda Huraa. During this festive time our team were lucky to have many exciting and interesting encounters, allowing us to collect valuable data for our Dolphin Identification Project. This month alone, photographic analysis allowed us to establish 49 resightings and 4 first sightings of newly found individuals. These new additions can occasionally be attributed to the movements of dolphins between pods, and may be a sign that an individual was never seen before has reached waters surrounding the Resort. In other cases however, new IDs may relate to dolphins who are commonly sighted on board our Dolphin Cruises, and might have only recently developed enough fin-outline complexity to be recognized among other individuals. During this busy time, our turtle biologist Aurélien broke the team’s record of maximum number of ID shots taken on one single trip, shooting 19 resighting pictures!
Very few times do we encounter more than 2 species during a month’s worth of excursions. This exceptional December, though, was filled with rare encounters, meaning that all 4 species for which we have Identification Databases were encountered by our team.
Right place, right time
Among the thousands of pictures taken each month by the Team, we often observe smooth dorsal fins. In this case, successful ID is not possible. In rare cases, however, lucky timing helps us to recognize multiple individuals in just one shot. Pictures such as this one help us assess which dolphins belong to the same pod, pictured are Angkor (SL073), Dental (SL138), and Pepperoni (SL096).
IMPORTANT SIGHTINGS
Snow (SL076) – an adult leucistic spinner dolphin, and, as per our knowledge, one of only two of this kind in the Maldivian archipelago. First observed in 2018, this individual has made a regular appearance on our dolphin cruises, and his photo-ID was collected 18 times. After February 2024, however, no more sightings were recorded. Leucistic wild animals are bright and very visible to predators. Despite many months of concerns, though, Snow was spotted again in December!
Snowflake – a juvenile leucistic dolphin, but it is not known whether this tiny spinner is Snow’s offspring. First observed as a newborn in early 2023, Snowflake’s dorsal fin is still too notch-free and therefore cannot be officially added to our database. His unique appearance, though, has allowed us to keep track of his presence in kuda Huraa waters and to follow its growth. He/she is still swimming with its putative mother and is quickly reaching her size. December was a special month also thanks to the repeated sighting of this beauty!
Circle (SL135) – the most commonly observed dolphin on our dolphin and sunset cruises. The large indentation on the railing edge of its dorsal fin always makes him stand out in the pod, and its most recent sighting marked its 50th observation! Notably, we very often spot Circle in the vicinity of another easily recognizable dolphin: Triangle (SL134). These two individuals seem to always be travelling together, and have been observed to spend time with each other for the last six years.
Hope (SL394) – an especially unique specimen of spinner dolphin as its dorsal fin visibly bends to the left. This feature, in other Cetaceans such as killer whales, is associated with poor health or injury. In this case the probable cause for dorsal fin damage is boat strike, as no speed limitations are currently in place to regulate the interaction between dolphins and boat traffic. Hope is not only a reminder that change is needed in order to protect these beautiful creatures, but is also proof of their incredible resilience.
Dental (SL138) – Some dolphin individuals are so commonly seen that our Team manage to photograph them almost every week. Other ones, on the contrary, seem to be more elusive and are very rarely spotted. Dental is a recently sighted spinner dolphin that displays three clear notches on the upper section of its dorsal fin. Even being so easily recognizable, Dental seems to not be very camera friendly. Its only previous sighting, indeed, dates back to January 2019. After a five year absence, it’s food to see Dental back in Kaafu Atoll!
Yan (SL387) – photographed for the first time in August 2024, Yan is one of the most recent additions to our Identification Database, and was only recently sighted for a second time. As our sixth year of data collection ends, new dolphins are acquiring enough fin complexity to be identified, giving us a chance to assess pod dynamics and individual life histories with better precision.
RARELY SIGHTED CETACEANS
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) were found to spend time together with the more common spinner dolphins, providing a rare double-species encounter for our guests.
Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are observed close to Kuda Huraa in periods of transition between the 2 seasonal monsoons, with a stronger presence during March-April. This month (December 2024) these large Odontocetes didn’t disappoint, and once again showed up just before the change of winds, providing one last encounter before presumably disappearing for the next 2/3 months.
Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) are very rarely sighted, with only a few observations recorded each year. In a lucky encounter, our colleagues in the Four Seasons Dive Team managed to meet a small pod of these unique deep divers on the way back to Kuda Huraa from a scuba diving trip. With extensive white markings covering their faces and bodies, it’s impossible to misidentify these shy travellers, and we hope to meet them again soon!
Dolphin Diary 2025
JANUARY 2025
At Landaa this month, we conducted 8 dolphin-spotting cruises for 62 resort guests. We sighted approximately 605 Spinners plus 16 Bottlenose dolphins.
At Kuda Huraa, we conducted 13 dolphin cruises, and despite the unusually unfavourable weather conditions for the time of year, we had a 100% successful sighting rate, with lots of spinner and bottlenose dolphins encountered in close proximity to the Resort. Pods were observed cruising and leaping in the strong currents driven by changing tides and strong winds. During this time, our researchers were delighted to see some of the most frequently sighted resident spinners, and even more excited for a new special addition to the pod.
Snow, Snowflake, and now Snowball ?
It is always special to spot a leucistic dolphin in a pod of spinners. During our most recent trips, both Snow and Snowflake were observed. Interestingly, a potential third white dolphin was seen, although it is not possible to confirm whether this is actually Snowflake (due to the absence of dorsal fin notches). It was recently noted that Snowflake was approaching adult-size, whereas this potentially new juvenile (‘Snowball’) appeared to be much smaller.
FEBRUARY
At Landaa this month, we conducted 12 Cruises, enjoyed by 151 guests, and recorded 320 Spinners plus 27 Bottlenose Dolphins. February proved a very popular month, with every trip booked and every trip successfully sighting dolphins.
At Kuda Huraa, we were excited to spot the rarely seen Risso’s Dolphins around Malé Atoll, and not once but twice in the same week. These unique odontocetes have large bulbous heads, tall dorsal fins, and white scratch markings.
Signtings of Spinners increased in inter-insular channels, likely due to seasonally strong currents from the NE Monsoon. This facilitated prolonged interactions with these cetaceans.
MARCH
At Landaa this month, we conducted 8 Dolphin Cruises for 51 guests, and recorded 360 Spinners and a small pod of 7 Bottlenose dolphins.
At Kuda Huraa, notable encounters included a pod of 40 Spinners displaying aerial behaviours near the northern reef drop-off. We are continuing to collect photo-ID data on these individuals to build our regional cetacean database. Additionally, sightings of any mantas (M. alfredi) we encounter are submitted to Manta Trust to support their national monitoring efforts.
CETACEANS OF MALÉ
Pilot Whales – We have been recording sightings of Cetaceans around Kuda Huraa and along North Malé Atoll’s eastern side since 2018. During March, we hope to see pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). Several pods appear every year in mid-March, followed by numerous tight knit pods at the start of April. And sure enough, we sighted small groups of pilot whales on 13 March (and no further sightings this month). It is increasingly evident that data collection can be an integral part of tourism, allowing resorts to make informed decisions on where to look for marine life and what sightings to expect, making encounters more reliable and predictable.
Photo ID – While conducting dolphin cruises, our team collects 3 types of data: spatial (GPS), behavioural (dolphin-boat interaction), and photographic. This helps us to identify the seasonal pilot whale sightings, suggesting that the same individuals (identified through their fin shapes) seem to travel in the same direction (Northward) at the same time of year. Interestingly, we still don’t know their origin or final destination.
APRIL 2025
At Landaa this month, our 10 Dolphin Cruise excursions were enjoyed by 104 guests, where we sighted 245 Spinners and 23 Bottlenose Dolphins.
CETACEANS OF MALÉ
Pilot Whales – As in every year since 2018, April marked peak migration for short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) along the outer coast of Kuda Huraa. Unfortunately, most sightings were during snorkeling and private trips rather than dolphin cruises, limiting our data collection. We did, however, manage to identify several individuals seen in previous years, reinforcing the strong social bonds of this species.
Risso’s Dolphins (Grampus griseus) – more elusive than pilot whales, share their squid prey. Calm seas this month allowed for multiple sightings, adding several new individuals to our database.
Beaked whales – Key id features are the shape of the snout, body length and colour, posterior position of a small-sized dorsal fin, and shy discrete behaviours. It was interesting to see them just outside Himmafushi on the reef. Being deep divers, they’re very uncommon in shallow waters, so maybe our encounter was thanks to the presence of the juvenile.
MAY
Pilot Whales – After April’s expected observation of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), a few late pods of these huge Odontocetes were also seen migrating Northward this last month. Encountered pods were composed of both previously sighted and never-seen-before individuals.
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) are the second most commonly sighted species on our cruises, but their shy nature makes them hard to spot. On a few lucky occasions, small pods (10-15 individuals) were observed logging and resting in shallow waters close to surf breaks.
Spinner Dolphins – Most sightings for the past month involved the resident population of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), with several records of mating behavior.
Identification Project – Dolphin Cruises
As expected, this month was characterised by some strong winds and heavy rain showers – the choppy waters make spotting and photographing fins more difficult. We have, however, taken a large quantity of identification photos during the first 5 months of 2025. Upon analysis, it is evident that the extent of our knowledge of the populations of different species varies greatly. In particular, only 6 identifiable fins out of 156 were new sightings, meaning our database contains a fairly comprehensive census for this population. On the other hand, no resighting has been recorded yet for Risso’s dolphins, indicating that a combination of factors, including the timid behaviour characterising this species, leads to a limited understanding of movement patterns and pod sizes. This differential depth of understanding is consistent with the frequency of sighting for each species, with spinners being the most commonly sighted, and Risso’s being the least frequently encountered.
Since the start of our ID Project at Kuda Huraa, we have recorded 416 spinner dolphins, 115 bottlenose dolphins, 104 pilot whales, and 40 Risso’s dolphins. Notably, insights that stand out from preliminary analysis reveal the high residency of the spinner population, regularly sighted throughout the year, and the stability of pilot whale social groups. For example, 6 individuals spotted traveling together on 13 March 2025 had been observed for the first time together on 26 October 2023. The striking stability of these social bonds and the predictability of their migration through Kuda Huraa waters makes us wonder where they spend the remainder of their time, whether in Maldivian territory or beyond the boundary of the archipelago’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
JUNE
June was another quiet month for Dolphin Cruises, partly due to the variable weather and partly due to the low tourist season. Only 6 out of 9 cruises observed dolphins, with an additional sighting in transit to a Shark Safari.
Cookie Cutter Sharks – Conducting multiple dolphin cruises per week allows us to observe changes in individual dolphins and populations. Recently, a curious sighting allowed us to notice wounds inflicted by cookie cutter sharks on spinner dolphins and their healing over time.
JULY 2025
Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris): Always a charismatic and fun sight to see while on dolphin cruises. Each dolphin cruise that we do at the MDC, we collect environmental and behavioral data on these dolphins, while taking photographs of their dorsal fins to be further analyzed and identified.
Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus): This month, we were lucky enough to see pilot whales not once, but twice on a dolphin cruise. They would come up to the boat and stay with us for quite a while before we had to leave. They have also been seen with spinner dolphins, appearing to work together to hunt.
Risso’s Dolphins (Grampus griseus): One very special time during July, our team was fortunate enough to see a pod of Risso’s dolphins. These special creatures are a rare sight, and we were not only able to capture some ID shots for the database, but also observed more of their peculiar behaviour such as headstanding.
Cetacean ID Project
Pilot whales are an infrequent visitor and it is uncommon to have repeated sightings of the same individual here. However, GM025, also known as “Wright”, has been seen and identified twice this year already, whereas this individual was only recorded for the first time in 2022, and one time in 2023. There is no way of knowing if Wright was here in 2024, but having two confirmed ID sightings in 2025 is quite special. We also welcomed some newly identified pilot whales to the database: GM108 “Aazin” and GM071 “Sorting Hat”.
Curious Cetacean Behaviour
Along with collecting identification photographs, we collect and record data on the different behaviours observed during excursions. Risso’s dolphins were observed ‘spyhopping’ to take a peek at what is happening at the surface, and also performing a headstand, leaving their tails out of the water for minutes at a time.
Pictured below are spinner dolphins interacting with a pilot whale — they seemed to be travelling and hunting together. This is a behaviour that has been previously recorded from another sighting earlier this year, but to see it happen multiple times is an occasion worth noting for further research. It is unclear if they were successful in their apparent hunting behaviours, but this is a phenomenon that we will be on the lookout for in future excursions.
Pilot whale observed interacting with Spinner dolphins
AUGUST
At Landaa this month, we held 8 dolphin cruises for a total of 136 guests. We recorded 180 spinners and 24 bottlenose dolphins.
Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) are always a charismatic and fun sight to see while on dolphin cruises. Their energetic demeanour and social interactions leave everyone feeling delighted that they could see such animals active in the wild. We continue to collect environmental and behavioural data on these dolphins, while taking photographs of their dorsal fins to be further analysed and identified.
Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) – we were lucky to see pilot whales this month! These magnificent beasts would come up to the boat and stay with us for quite a while before we had to leave. They have also been seen with spinner dolphins, appearing to work together to hunt.
Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) – Sighting these special creatures was a rare treat this month. Not only was our team able to capture some ID shots for the database, but we also saw them on the way back from a snorkel excursion, where they were extra-friendly, approaching and interacting with our boat. Lucky month indeed!
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SEPTEMBER
At Landaa this month, we held 11 dolphin cruises for a total of 77 guests. We sighted 5 bottlenose dolphins and 411 spinners (including 2 very large pods).
At Kuda Huraa, we enjoyed seeing our beautiful resident Spinners, with some re-sightings and some newly identified invididuals for our database. We also sighted a pod of Bottlenose, with some new individuals identified, as well as some re-sighted individuals from previous months and even years – “Weston” (TA109) hadn’t been recorded for 12 months ! Thanks to our Darwin software and an extensive database passed down from previous Reefscapers teams, we are able to continue collecting data on these species and compare to previous years here at Kuda Huraa.
OCTOBER 2025
At Landaa, we conducted 10 dolphin cruises for 77 excited guests, and recorded sightings of ~300 Spinner Dolphins.
Cetacean Spotlight: Pilot Whales
Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) have once again been spotted off Kuda Huraa’s shores, making guests and staff alike feel the awe and power of these beautiful animals. Usually traveling in pods ranging in size of 10 to 30, pilot whales are matriarchal like elephants and orcas, and females live past reproductive viability. This allows the grandmother pilot whales to lead their families and pass down generational knowledge and experiences.
These giants, averaging up to 7 m long, are the third largest dolphin after orcas and long-finned pilot whales. They hunt using their ‘melon’, an organ in the bulbous part of their head, which allows them to echolocate. They are deep divers, reaching depths of 1000 m and holding their breath for over 20 minutes. They feed on squid, fish, and octopus, with some rare record of them feeding on marine mammals.
The Maldives is a stopover spot for these cetaceans during their migratory routes. There are usually more sightings during their northward migration around April and southward migration in November. However, we have been lucky enough to have sightings each month this year besides February.
Cetacean Parasites: Remoras
Remoras are a type of ray-finned fish that evolved to suction themselves onto larger animals as a means of travel and feeding. They attach themselves to their host via a modified dorsal fin which acts as a sucking disc on the top of their heads. This relationship is not inherently harmful to the host, as the remora most likely feeds off the scraps of meals, feces, parasites and dead skin. It is however thought to increase drag and irritate the skin of these host cetaceans. Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) have been observed jumping out to slap off these remoras.
NOVEMBER
At Landaa, we held 11 Dolphin Cruises enjoyed by a total of 72 guests. We recorded 352 Spinners and 35 Bottlenose, plus … a surprise appearance by a tiger shark!
Cetacean Spotlight
November was a bottlenose bonanza at Kuda Huraa, with multiple sightings of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins during our dolphin cruise excursions. They can be hard to find, and even more difficult to photograph due to their more reserved disposition, but they can still be spotted by our team!
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) belong to the family Delphinidae. Living in shallow coastal waters in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, they have a broad range that extends from African coasts to Australia and Philippines, up to Japan and over to the Red Sea. Reaching lengths of 2.6 m long and weighing nearly 230 kg, these cetaceans are actually smaller than (and sometimes confused with) the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Indo-Pacific bottlenoses have more teeth than their common cousins, with 23-29 teeth in each jaw, and a more slender body and rostrum, as opposed to 21 to 24 in the common bottlenose who have a more robust build. They also have spots on the ventral side of their bodies, which can also help identify them from other species. Their diet consists of cephalopods, a range of fish and sometimes crustaceans. These social creatures live in family groups, called pods, that can vary in size from 5 to 15 dolphins, but there are records of super pods reaching into the hundreds. Site fidelity is high with this species, having clear habitat boundaries. However, it can be difficult to see them often for they are quite shy and less attention seeking than their charismatic relatives, the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris).
Cetacean Threats
This month, we were saddened to see some of the consequences of human activity on the dolphins here in busy Kaafu Atoll. Multiple individuals with boat-strike wounds were sighted over different days. With Malé being so close, it means a higher level of boat traffic in this area which results in higher disturbance levels. Vessels are not only a noise disturbance for these incredibly social creatures, but also have the capacity to inflict physical harm. It is not uncommon to see propeller strikes on the Odontocetes’ bodies usually near their tails, but also on their dorsal and pectoral fins.
Ongoing disturbances mean prolonged stressors for cetaceans to live through, which can affect their breathing patterns, feeding behaviours, and energy expenditure. We sometimes see jet skis and speedboats charging through pods, which can lead to collisions and lasting physical injuries. We must all practise caution and show respect to our ocean inhabitants, and reducing vessel speed while maintaining proper viewing behaviour can greatly reduce the stress and strikes on these cetaceans.
Photos: Pilot whale with propeller scar; Spinner with a fresh propeller wound; Spinner with a flipper wound.
DECEMBER
At Landaa, we held 10 Cruises enjoyed by 115 guests, and recorded 370 Spinners. Our exceptional sighting this month was an encounter with 40 bottlenose dolphins coming together for courtship!!
Cetacean Spotlight: Risso’s Dolphin
Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) are an incredibly elusive species. Reaching lengths of 3 to 4 metres, and weighing between 300 to 500 kg, this species is the sole member of the genus Grampus. As with other dolphins, they live in family groups called pods, with whom they form tight social bonds through hunting, travelling and engaging in various social behaviours. Risso’s dolphins can be found all over the world, preferring habitats that border continental shelves and steeper banks that allow them to hunt.
These deep divers can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes while reaching depths of 600 metres. Their favourite prey, squid, tends to fight back – leaving scratches all over the Risso’s body that form white scars. The adults will be covered in these scars, not only from their victories in hunting, but also from social interactions. Odontocetes are known to tooth-rake each other, and the lack of repigmentation in this species could be a status symbol amongst the males as to reduce the chances of a new challenger. Since they hunt primarily cephalopods, their teeth are only needed for display and for mating conflicts.
It is unclear if these dolphins exhibit pod-fidelity the same way other Odontocetes do; in terms of mothers staying with calves throughout their life cycle, these dolphins might be more fluid and not stay with their natal pods. Here in Kuda Huraa, it is rare to see these incredible creatures. There are many threats facing all our cetaceans, such as vessel strikes, entanglement with fishing lines, and overall anthropogenic disruption of natural behaviours. This is why we must respect the wildlife, view them from a safe distance, and practice caution when driving near pods.
Leucism: A White Christmas
Here in Kuda Huraa, we get to see an incredibly rare natural phenomenon – white spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) that have a genetic mutation known as leucism. This type of hypopigmentation is due to a malfunction in the gene that encodes the proteins and hormones that are responsible for melanin production. Usually these dolphins are dark grey with lighter grey and white countershading, but those affected by this condition are almost white. Leucism is often confused with albinism, which is a congenital condition caused by the lack or defect of tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for making melanin and leads to complete loss of pigmentation.
During the month of December, these remarkable ‘blonde’ members of the spinner pods were sighted on almost half of our dolphin cruises – getting photos of them is a difficult task for they are elusive. There are theories correlating their colour and their demeanour, that they would be easier targets for predators so they know to keep out of sight as much as they can. Where other animals would abandon their young at birth for being different, that is not the case for these dolphins as they take care of their family members even when this anomaly occurs. We hope to continue this lucky streak of seeing them into 2026!
