Individual whales and dolphins can be identified by unique markings on their dorsal fins and/or tail flukes, and even thier bodies. These identifying features can be in the form of nicks, notches, and/or distinctive patterns. Photo identification, or Photo-ID for short, is therefore an incredibly useful non-invasive tool, that helps identify individuals over time as their fins/flukes can be as unique as the human fingerprint. Each individual whale or dolphin is given a unique name and number and added to a catalogue where over time, any subsequent re-sighting of the individual is recorded. By knowing who is who, where and when they’ve been seen, and who they hang out with, we are able to learn more about individual movements, habitat preferences, life cycles, behaviour and population size.

The good news is that anyone can contribute to this work. It’s not only for scientists and researchers, as help from members of the public is paramount. For example, we wouldn’t know a lot of what we do know about Risso’s dolphins if it wasn’t for people generously providing their images. 

So, if you’re out and about on the west coast of Scotland and happen to encounter any of the species for whom we have a catalogue, please consider sharing any images with us. You can help advance our knowledge of these remarkable creatures, and we promise to keep you updated as to who you might have seen!

Image on the right shows individual Risso's dolphin 'Seaweed' (LW0005), first encountered in 2005, again in 2010, then every year between 2013 and 2023.