Morska velikana obiskala Tržaški zaliv I Ocean giants visit the Gulf of Trieste

 

Raziskovalci društva Morigenos smo danes na podlagi obvestila enega od slovenskih ribičev izsledili in opazovali dva brazdasta kita (Balaenoptera physalus). Brazdasti kit je druga največja žival na svetu in edini stalno prisotni vosati kit v Sredozemlju, v severnem Jadranu pa ga zabeležimo v povprečju na vsakih nekaj let. Brazdasti kiti na severni polobli zrastejo do 22,5 m in 50 ton, njihovi vrstniki na južni polobli pa celo do 26 m in 80 ton. Prehranjujejo se predvsem z majhnimi rakci imenovanimi kril, ter z nekaterimi majhnimi ribami. Brazdasti kit je na Rdečem seznamu opredeljen kot Ranljiva vrsta. Glavne grožnje tej vrsti v Sredozemlju so naleti hitrih ladij, podvodni hrup, kemično onesnaženje in mikroplastika.

Oba kita smo fotografirali in pridobili zračne posnetke obeh živali. Na podlagi fotografij hrbtnih plavuti in drugih delov telesa bomo lahko v sodelovanju s kolegi iz tujine ugotavljali ali sta kita že bila identificirana drugod, zračni posnetki pa bodo omogočili ugotavljanje njunega telesnega stanja.

V društvu Morigenos smo zelo veseli odličnega sodelovanja z lokalnimi ribiči, saj brez njih danes ne bi mogli zbrati zgoraj omenjenih podatkov.

V društvu pozivamo vse, ki ste te dni na morju, da nam v primeru opažanj kitov to čim prej sporočite na telefonsko številko 031 77 10 77, saj nam s tem pomagate zbirati pomembne informacije o gibanju in zdravstvenemu stanju teh živali. Obenem prosimo lastnike plovil, da se kitom ne približujejo na manj kot 200 m in s tem zmanjšate morebitni negativni vpliv nanje.

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Today, Morigenos researchers located and observed two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), thanks to a report by one of Slovenian fishermen. The fin whale is the second largest animal on our planet and the only regularly present baleen whale in the Mediterranean Sea. In the northern Adriatic Sea this species is typically recorded every few years. Fin whales in the northern hemisphere grow up to 22.5 m and 50 tons, while their southern hemisphere counterparts can grow up to 26 m and 80 tons. They mainly feed on small crustaceans called krill, and on some small fish species. The fin whale is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In the Mediterranean, it is primarily threatened by ship strikes, underwater noise, chemical pollution and microplastics. 

We photographed both whales and obtained aerial footage of them. Based on photographs of dorsal fins and other body parts we will be able to determine if these whales have been observed elsewhere by our colleagues working in other parts of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, while aerial footage will help determine their overall body condition. 

Morigenos is extremely happy to have a great ongoing collaboration with local fishermen, without whom we would not be able to collect such valuable data today. 

Morigenos asks those of you at sea to report any whale sightings to us at +38631771077 and thereby help us collect important information about the movements and the health condition of these animals. We also ask boat owners to reduce potential negative impacts on these whales by not approaching them closer than 200 m.