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| A comprehensive
guide
to current and future events and exhibitions in
the UAE |
|
Valuable concise reference source on the UAE,
covering political system, economy, business, history and
heritage,
education, women, healthcare, tourism and environment. |
|
|
Natural history of the UAE,
covering all animals and plants recorded in the
Emirates. |
|
|
Report by National US Arab Chamber of Commerce on the
UAE. Vol XV, No 3, June 2007. Includes analysis of UAE economy. |
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NATURE
General information
Natural
Emirates
Key animals
Captive breeding
of rare breeds
Watching whales and
dolphins in the UAE
Scorpions and snakes
The coasts
Desert
The Mountains
Ornithological importance
of UAE
Environmental agencies
Fossil hunting
WATCHING WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN THE UAE
Perhaps a third of the 80 known species of whales and dolphins (cetaceans)
may occur off the shores of the UAE. Some are far more common than others
and many, such as the shy beaked whales, have yet to be confirmed in UAE
waters but are thought to occur here due to sightings in neighbouring
Oman, or simply due to their known habitat preferences. The deep underwater
canyons and cliffs on the edge of the continental shelf off UAE's east
coast is where most species can be found, including deepwater cetaceans
like the mighty Sperm
whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and the Risso's
dolphin (Grampus griseus).
The warm, sandy shallows of the Arabian Gulf are in strong contrast to
the East Coast environment, and host some species adapted for shallow
water life, such as the Indo-Pacific
humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis ) and the
rare
finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides).
Many other species are at home in either environment.
Species to look out for are the enormous blue
whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the slighter
smaller fin
whale (Balaenopterus physalus) which has a
distinctive pattern of white pigment on its lower jaw, Bryde’s
whale (Balaenoptera edeni) with subtle grey
marking covering its broad back, the humpback
(Megaptera novaeangliae) which arches its slate grey back in a very distinctive
manner when diving.
The toothed whales and dolphins are, on average, smaller than the baleen
whales, but are far more numerous. Those found off the UAE show a remarkable
diversity of size, form and behaviour, from the tiny finless
porpoise, well under 2m in length,
which finds retreat in coastal shallows, to the colossal, deepwater sperm
whale that may exceed 50 tonnes and grow to
20m, the largest toothed whale of the UAE and indeed the world.
It is possible to view whales and dolphins in the UAE's waters most of
the year, although a choppy sea provides remarkably good cover for an
arching back and dorsal fin of even the largest of whales. Conditions
are ideal in the UAE from late March to July, when the sea-surface is
calm, although the humidity and temperatures in May and June can be uncomfortable.
However, whale and dolphin watching can be rewarding at almost any time.
Only the northerly winter winds, or shamal, of December to February are
likely to create viewing difficulties.
Early mornings and evenings are usually the best times to look for cetaceans,
as the sea is often calmer and the light better. They can be found any
distance offshore, the majority of sightings of dolphins so far being
fairly close to shore, whereas whales are more often found well offshore.
It is possible to watch some cetaceans from the land, including both whales
and dolphins. Most likely to be seen are the bottlenose
and Indo-Pacific
humpback dolphins. Far better, however, is
to venture slowly out to sea by boat, sit back, wait, watch and listen.
You can hear the blow of a whale from quite a distance, even before you
can see it. Listen too, for splashes. The thunderous sound of a breaching
whale can carry over a couple of kilometres and whales in such a mood
have been sighted from as far away as 8 to 10km.
On days when the sea is calm and glassy, however, the general atmosphere
often pervades through schools of dolphins and whale pods, which loll
peacefully on the surface, allowing boats to approach to within a few
metres. On occasion whales 10 to 12m long have slowly swum under
boatloads of onlookers, providing captivating and memorable close-up views
as they surface nearby.
For other information on UAE marine life CLICK
HERE
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