Sperm whale seen again after five years
Within the rough waters of the winter Aegean, we spot a sperm whale familiar to us, first recorded five years ago, who has managed to survive repeated strikes from the propeller of a large vessel. This sperm whale reminds us of how resilient these large and remarkably intelligent mammals are. They struggle to cope with […]
Seal Pup Relocation Raises Questions about Marine Species Rehabilitation in Greece
The recent incident involving a seal pup that was found on Lipsi island and was transferred to the Attica Zoological Park outside of Athens, after many hours of transportation (initially by inflatable boat to Leros, with the valuable assistance of a veterinarian from Leros, and then by passenger ferry to Piraeus and by road to […]
Πολλαπλά Ερωτήματα για την Περίθαλψη των Θαλάσσιων Ειδών στην Ελλάδα
Το πρόσφατο περιστατικό με τη νεαρή φώκια που εντοπίστηκε στο νησί των Λειψών και μεταφέρθηκε στο Αττικό Ζωολογικό Πάρκο, έπειτα από πολύωρη μετακίνηση (αρχικά με φουσκωτό σκάφος έως τη Λέρο, με την πολύτιμη συνδρομή κτηνιάτρου από τη Λέρο, και στη συνέχεια με επιβατηγό πλοίο έως τον Πειραιά και οδικώς στο Αττικό Πάρκο όπου είναι εγκατεστημένο […]
Naftilos
In the final days of the year, under winter conditions, the crew of the “Naftilos” is traveling in the waters of the Northern Dodecanese, with a brief stop for resupply on Leros. Our daily work continues with surveys of marine mammal populations, oceanographic measurements, and assessments of marine pollution. During the holiday period, although most […]
Every marine mammal has its own “identity”
For more than 25 years, the marine mammal researchers of the Archipelagos Institute have been working at sea throughout the year, collecting – among other data – hundreds of photographs of the cetaceans we document during each expedition. Through photo-identification, we recognize individual animals based on their unique markings. These markings result from interactions with […]
Sperm whale
November in the Aegean, and the crew of Triton is monitoring a large male sperm whale at the moment it begins an impressive dive, descending to about 850 meters, in the area of the Ikaria trench. A few interesting facts about sperm whales, the giants of our seas. After 20-30 million years of evolution, sperm […]
Dead Mediterranean monk seal
An adult male Mediterranean monk seal was found dead in the waters south of Samos Island, having likely drifted from a more southern part of the Aegean due to the strong southerly winds that prevailed over the past ten days. It was discovered by local residents, who notified the Archipelagos Institute, whose researchers arrived on […]
Mass stranding of at least four Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris)
Mass stranding of at least four Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) was recorded yesterday in southeastern Crete. The four cetaceans stranded almost simultaneously on neighboring shores. Another whale was found stranded alive, and was guided back into the sea–its fate still remains unknown. It is, however, highly likely that more beaked whales have died in […]
The crew of Triton continues its route
The crew of Triton continues its route in the northern Dodecanese, to Arki, Marathi, and the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary in Lipsi. During our stop in Marathi, a small island of the Arki complex, we focused on maintenance work at the Archipelagos research station that has been operating since 2002. As this research station is […]
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale above the Ikaria Sea Trench
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale above the Ikaria Sea Trench The Cuvier’s beaked whale is a truly enigmatic marine mammal. It is one of the least studied cetacean species worldwide, and at the same time one of the most difficult to research, as it systematically avoids contact with boats or humans. Remarkably, unlike the other six species […]
