Steven (Steve) Benjamin, a Cape Town–based zoologist, marine guide and award-winning underwater photographer who runs Animal Ocean Seal Snorkelling, recently captured a rare and remarkable sighting close to shore.
On 3 September, Benjamin encountered a pod of Risso’s dolphins between Maori Bay and Llandudno. In a post shared on the Animal Ocean Safaris Facebook page, he showcased striking images featuring adults, playful juveniles and the species’ hallmark — distinctive pale scars etched across their bodies.
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The pod, spread over roughly one square kilometre, moved slowly offshore, allowing guides and passengers ample time to photograph dorsal fins and the unique markings on each animal.
According to a research paper by Li Chuang, these scars remain visible for life because healed skin in Risso’s dolphins does not regenerate pigment-producing cells. As a result, tooth rakes, squid sucker marks and healed scrapes appear as permanent pale scars – a biological trait that makes photographic identification especially reliable.
Typically, Risso’s dolphins inhabit deeper, offshore waters along the continental slope, which makes multiple nearshore sightings in this region over recent months particularly noteworthy for researchers studying seasonal movements and habitat use.
Tour operators, along with citizen scientists and photographers, play a vital role in building long-term data sets without intrusive tagging. Their images contribute to global photo-ID catalogues and age estimation records, supporting research and conservation efforts worldwide.
Local operators encourage anyone who has captured clear images to share them with Animal Ocean Safaris or accredited cetacean research groups. These contributions help improve conservation strategies and promote safer boating practices around nearshore visitors.
Visit www.animalocean.co.za to learn more.
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Picture: Steve Benjamin /Animal Ocean Safari’s
