{"id":40500,"date":"2024-08-01T14:42:26","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T12:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2b368b59-bb6d-4aec-a218-afac33d72805"},"modified":"2024-08-01T15:27:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T13:27:31","slug":"a-moment-of-bliss-heartwarming-drone-footage-captures-sperm-whale-family-playing-in-mediterranean-sea","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/a-moment-of-bliss-heartwarming-drone-footage-captures-sperm-whale-family-playing-in-mediterranean-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"A moment of bliss: heartwarming drone footage captures sperm whale family playing in Mediterranean Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"

The whales were filmed rolling over, playing with each other, and swimming in a line over a series of deep-sea underwater canyons known as the Hellenic Trench. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 01 August 2024 at 12:42 PM<\/p>

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Researchers on the Blue Panda\u00a0expedition\u00a0sailing boat were excited when their drone spotted a social group of sperm whales<\/a> with young calves.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cWe are over the Hellenic Trench, a series of deep-sea underwater canyons stretching 600 kilometres from south-west Turkey along southern Crete to Western Greece,\u201d says WWF\u2019s\u00a0Chris Johnson, who shared the footage while on the Blue Panda expedition (coordinated by\u00a0WWF-France<\/a>)\u00a0with researchers from the\u00a0Tethys Research Institute<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0WWF Greece<\/a>.<\/p>

The sperm whale family were spotted swimming over the Hellenic Trench in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Credit: Chris Johnson\/WWF. All imagery taken under scientific research permit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

This is a critical deep-water habitat for many marine animals and has been designated as\u00a0an “Important Marine Mammal Area” by the IUCN.<\/p>

\u201cSperm whales are found all over the world. They are known as the ‘elephants of the sea’ and live in matrilineal family groups,\u201d says\u00a0Johnson.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThey are exceptionally social and often come together as a group, where they may roll over and touch each other, or swim in a line.\u201d<\/p>

Two minutes of bliss: watch the sperm whale family playing in the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: Chris Johnson\/WWF. All imagery taken under scientific research permit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

With human pressures on sperm whales and other ocean creatures growing in the region \u2013 and Mediterranean sperm whale populations classified as endangered \u2013 the scientists were pleased to see young calves in the group. <\/p>

Johnson adds: \u201cDocumenting this encounter will add critical data for their conservation.\u201d<\/p>

More breathtaking wildlife stories<\/strong><\/p>