Jozani bay, Zanzibar

The first hours of a day like any other in Kizimkazi, southerly point on the island of Zanzibar.
The traditional dhows and local fishermen's nonchalance of the outrigger canoes (naglawas)
leaves you thinking that the modern world has not caught up with this corner of the Indian
Ocean in reach of the African continent. Under our boat, depths of coral are unfolding, that
will soon give way to layers of white sand; our driver seems sure of the way, he plots a
course that he will not leave. Suddenly, his front-stationed crew member points at
silhouettes speedily slicing through the water - they are there, the "Zanzibar dolphins"!

All photos are by André Brunsperger unless otherwise indicated
(c) all rights reserved

The hundred or so metres that separate us from the dolphins reduces, and what resembles a dolphin
hunting scene ensues, when just below us a dozen dolphins rise up from the depths in tight formation
to burst through the surface and breathe: an extraordinary sight or a dream realised for some...

© Photo by Philippe Marcel, all rights reserved

A few metres away, a completely different scene is taking place when 3 young males, bustling around
a female, demonstratively present their sex organs, clearly displaying their intentions; they have just
allocated this female, that was going to have to face up to the combined enthusiasm of these
3 mating suitors in a trance. The situation quickly turns to harassment, and we then witness
the vain and pathetic dodgings of the chosen female faced with the incessant attacks from her
assailants, in a no-exit body to body contact: figures of high aquatic acrobatics and bites
figures in a concert of piercing clicking noises, punctuated by a cloud of semen the femail
will no longer be able to give her "kidnappers" the slip. A few metres away , the rest
of the group of cetaceans impassively watch this scene...of good dolphin habits.

© Photo by Philippe Marcel, all rights reserved

General information:

The dolphins in Zanzibar are part of the sub-species Tursiops truncantus aduncus, whose distribution
area is the Indo-Pacific Ocean as well as the Red Sea. They can measure up to 3.40m in length with
a weight of up to 350kg, pale grey on the back and flanks, the stomach is white and, in the oldest
dolphins , dotted with grey patches. They generally eat fish and small cephalopods.

The most commonly known of these cetaceans are the dolphins of Shark bay in Western Australia
that have already woven links with Aboriginal fishermen for several generations. Nowadays
interactions between humans and dolphins are regulated by Australian government rangers
due to large-scale tourism development that is becoming dangerous for the dolphins.