An exciting observation: A humpback dolphin, a species that has so far been seen only a few times off the coast of Israel, was seen yesterday (Saturday) on the northern coast of Eilat, in the area to protect peace.
Amos Barti, an inspector of the Nature and Parks Authority in the Eilat area who managed to document the dolphin, said that the first time a dolphin of this species was seen in our area was last January. "This is a species of marine mammal rare to our region. All marine mammals are protected natural values in Israel, and we must respect their presence and do everything in our power to allow them a natural, protected and safe space. I received a report from a citizen who saw the dolphin and I arrived at the scene to see that it was in good condition."
The dolphin spotted off the coast of Eilat, yesterday, photo: Amos Berti - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
In January 2020, Delphis researchers received the first documentation of the dolphin, which was seen swimming in the Gulf of Aqaba. It was the northernmost recorded observation of the Red Sea, and the first in the Gulf of Aqaba. According to Dafna Feingold of the organization, a marine biologist and coordinator of marine mammal observations in the Red Sea, the humpback dolphin is regularly found in the Red Sea, but its population is declining over time, and it is an endangered species.
This observation is in addition to another exciting observation that took place in the bay in September.
The Nature and Parks Authority explains that a dolphin is a wild animal. Do not get too close to it, and certainly do not swim with it. Keep a reasonable distance from the animal and let the dolphin choose whether to approach you.
The Nature and Parks Authority requested that in any case of documentation of an injured or distressed wild animal, it should be reported to the hotline at *3639.
"A rare species for our region." The dolphin, yesterday, photo: Amos Berti - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
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