Pod of Short-Finned Pilot Whales Sighted Off Hualien Coast, 3 Months Earlier Than Last Year
A rare pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales was sighted off the coast of Hualien Port, Taiwan, on May 21, three months earlier than the first sighting last year. A whale-watching tour boat observed behaviors such as mother-calf pairs and spyhopping. Photos of dorsal fins were taken for individual identification to track their history in the area, highlighting the ecological potential of Hualien's unique deep-sea topography.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 16:19
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 16:31 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 16:48 (16 min after Collected)
(CNA, Hualien, May 21, by reporter Chang Chi) A rare pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales appeared off the coast of Hualien Port today, three months earlier than their appearance last year. A whale-watching boat observed wild behaviors such as mother-calf pairs traveling together and "spyhopping," and has photographed the individuals' dorsal fins to identify if they have previously visited the Hualien sea area.
Dolphin & Whale Watching said that when its 8:30 AM tour departed, it first encountered spinner dolphins. On the return trip, it spotted about 8 short-finned pilot whales, and upon sailing not far from the mouth of Hualien Port, it witnessed a massive pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales.
Captain Lo Jen-tse of Dolphin & Whale Watching stated that this group of pilot whales was moving slowly, surfacing and spouting as a group. Some individuals remained at the surface for longer periods, appearing to be resting.
The tour operator noted that observations revealed noticeably smaller calves sticking close to their mothers within the pod. Some individuals vertically lifted their heads out of the water in a "spyhopping" behavior, presumably to observe the surrounding sea and the boat's movements.
According to Dolphin & Whale Watching's historical tour records, short-finned pilot whales are not a commonly sighted species in the Hualien sea area. Last year, they were sighted on only 6 tours, with an annual sighting rate of about 0.8%. While last year's first appearance was in August, this year a sizable pod has arrived as early as late May, with stable sightings on two consecutive tours.
Dolphin & Whale Watching explained that short-finned pilot whales belong to the Delphinidae family of the toothed whale suborder. Adult individuals are about 4 to 6 meters long and weigh about 3 tons. They have a robust, rounded body, a prominent forehead, a low and wide dorsal fin, and are mostly dark gray to black. They are highly social cetaceans, often moving in family groups.
The operator added that short-finned pilot whales primarily feed on cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and often frequent deeper waters. Their appearance demonstrates the special topographical condition of the eastern coast, where deep sea is close to the shore, showcasing the ecological potential of the area as a corridor for oceanic cetaceans.
The Dolphin & Whale Watching team conducted Photo-ID dorsal fin photography on-site. The images will be compared with historical data to clarify if these individuals have appeared in Hualien waters before, continuing to build the ecological record of cetaceans off the Hualien coast. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150521
Dolphin & Whale Watching said that when its 8:30 AM tour departed, it first encountered spinner dolphins. On the return trip, it spotted about 8 short-finned pilot whales, and upon sailing not far from the mouth of Hualien Port, it witnessed a massive pod of about 50 short-finned pilot whales.
Captain Lo Jen-tse of Dolphin & Whale Watching stated that this group of pilot whales was moving slowly, surfacing and spouting as a group. Some individuals remained at the surface for longer periods, appearing to be resting.
The tour operator noted that observations revealed noticeably smaller calves sticking close to their mothers within the pod. Some individuals vertically lifted their heads out of the water in a "spyhopping" behavior, presumably to observe the surrounding sea and the boat's movements.
According to Dolphin & Whale Watching's historical tour records, short-finned pilot whales are not a commonly sighted species in the Hualien sea area. Last year, they were sighted on only 6 tours, with an annual sighting rate of about 0.8%. While last year's first appearance was in August, this year a sizable pod has arrived as early as late May, with stable sightings on two consecutive tours.
Dolphin & Whale Watching explained that short-finned pilot whales belong to the Delphinidae family of the toothed whale suborder. Adult individuals are about 4 to 6 meters long and weigh about 3 tons. They have a robust, rounded body, a prominent forehead, a low and wide dorsal fin, and are mostly dark gray to black. They are highly social cetaceans, often moving in family groups.
The operator added that short-finned pilot whales primarily feed on cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and often frequent deeper waters. Their appearance demonstrates the special topographical condition of the eastern coast, where deep sea is close to the shore, showcasing the ecological potential of the area as a corridor for oceanic cetaceans.
The Dolphin & Whale Watching team conducted Photo-ID dorsal fin photography on-site. The images will be compared with historical data to clarify if these individuals have appeared in Hualien waters before, continuing to build the ecological record of cetaceans off the Hualien coast. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150521
FAQ
在花蓮外海目擊到什麼特殊的海洋生物？
在花蓮港外海目擊到一群約50隻的短肢領航鯨，這在該海域是較少見的物種。
這次目擊的時間點有何特別之處？
這次目擊發生在5月21日，比去年首次目擊的時間（8月）提早了整整3個月。
觀察到的短肢領航鯨有哪些行為？
賞鯨船觀察到牠們移動緩慢，成群浮上水面噴氣，有母鯨帶著幼鯨，以及部分個體出現將頭部垂直抬出水面的「浮窺」行為。
為何這次目擊事件具有生態意義？
短肢領航鯨是活動於深水域的大洋性鯨豚，牠們的出現顯示花蓮東部海岸「離岸不遠即接近深海」的特殊地形，證明了此處作為鯨豚活動廊道的生態潛力。
目擊後採取了什麼後續行動？
多羅滿工作團隊已對鯨群進行「Photo-ID背鰭個體辨識拍攝」，將與歷年資料比對，以釐清牠們是否曾出現在花蓮海域，並持續累積生態紀錄。