Rare sighting of dolphins off Portugal's coast as pollution improves

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Lucky citizens of Portugal's capital, Lisbon have been fortunate enough to catch a rare sighting of dolphins off its shores as they came out of COVID-19 lockdown.

Although dolphins have been previously seen in Lisbon's Tagus river, they are no longer seen very often, according to a reportby the Sea School and the Marine Science Association in Lisbon.

The dolphins have been seen in groups or'pods' leapingout of the water, looking like they werethoroughly enjoying themselves.

Groups or 'pods' of dolphins have been spotted off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal. /Reuters

It is not known why dolphins have returned to the Tagus, but Lisbon's mayor's officebelieves it is to do withthe drop in water pollution inrecent months.

"With the improvement in water quality, the river has been gaining new life and a friendly family of dolphins has been seen several times during the last month," the mayor's office wrote on Facebook.

Water pollution has dropped across Europe since the lockdown began, with many areas reporting an increase in wildlife.

Marine biologist,Francisco Martinho, who specialises in dolphins, believes the increase in fish in the area to eat is the reason dolphins have returned.

Video editing: Pedro Duarte

Source(s): Reuters