Nature Lampedusa

The whale

cladocora 29 March 2014

Some time ago they were starting the filming of a DVD on the Lampedusa island , so I suggested to do an interview with the late Don Pino. Character of the island, poet, owner of one of the most popular bars on the island. By accepting the proposal, I accompanied the crew at the bar. He was in his place, and as usual, having seen the camera, he expected that I can introduce him to the director. Don Pino agreed and the interview was memorable, he recited his poetry on Colombo, a whale that came to see him every year …

At the end of the winter, a little before the spring, are the first animals arriving at Lampedusa, the whales. The whale Balaenoptera physalus is the second largest in the world, is enormous. To recognize it from other species of whales, it should be noted the different pigmentation of the head on the right side the lower lip, oral cavity and some of the baleen are white, while the left side is gray uniform.

Its presence in Lampedusa is historically documented and orally. It is said that during World War II, ran aground a large specimen of whale in Cala Pisana. For the people of Lampedusa was a godsend and re-use all of the whale, were made shoes and lamp oil as well as food.

Just to give some numbers, it is up to 26 meters long, almost 9 floors of a building, weight from 30 to 80 tons. But what is to do on this island, because in the same period?

At one point towards the end of winter, there is never an exact date, but almost always after the first seastorms from the east, makes its appearance in a microscopic creature, whose name is unpronounceable the Nyctiphanes couchii. This small shrimp arrives in industrial quantities, and so our whale friend who is greedy, she also arrive to eat it. The groups of whales that are sighted in Lampedusa are various, sometimes with more than a dozen of whales, even with little ones in tow. The species is in danger as you can see in the schedule below that shows the classification of species, modified from wikipedia.

Many the studies done and researcher who deal of Lampedusa island’s whales. They try to understand where whales go after Lampedusa. But so far, the phenomenon remains a mystery. Some say that the whales go in the Tyrrhenian sea, others who go into the Ionian Sea. At the moment, nobody know where the whales go after Lampedusa, but for us it’s okay, the important thing is that our friend Colombo come back from us every year to announce the spring.

Balaenoptera physalus

Stato di conservazione