Sperm Whale sighting off the coast of Astros Kynourias, in the Argolic Gulf. This is the largest mammal species that we have recorded in these deep underwater canyons east of the Peloponnese — an area that remains understudied in terms of marine mammal populations.
Notably, the sperm whale is the largest toothed whale in the world, with females reaching lengths of 8–12 meters and males 16–18 meters, weighing 24 and 57 tons respectively. Their lifespan is approximately 70 years. The population in the Mediterranean is fewer than 2,500 adult individuals, while their presence in Greek seas has been known since antiquity, with Aristotle’s records proving impressive for his time.
Only when we understand the wildlife of our seas, can we protect them! Let us not forget that by protecting our seas, we are also protecting our own survival.
