A sperm whale has once again been spotted off the coast of central Greece, delighting residents and visitors after being filmed swimming near the seaside town of Kamena Vourla.
According to local reports, the sighting on Sunday, July 12, is the third officially recorded appearance of the large marine mammal in the area within the past six weeks.
The whale was first observed offshore near Theologos on May 31, before being recorded again in the Maliakos Gulf on July 10. Its latest appearance came just 350 meters from the coast of Kamena Vourla, where onlookers captured video of the animal surfacing to breathe.
The footage shows the whale emerging from the water and releasing its distinctive blow, sending a column of mist several meters into the air.
According to the local report, sperm whales are permanent residents of the Mediterranean Sea. However, sightings in enclosed and relatively shallow gulfs such as the North Euboean Gulf and the even shallower Maliakos Gulf have not previously been recorded.
Experts cited in the report describe the species as generally non-aggressive but stress that its enormous size means it should always be observed from a safe distance.
