Did you know that there are dolphins living near the shores of Israel? When they were first observed during the 1990s, they were thought to be sharks, but marine biologists soon discovered that there was nothing to be afraid of - pods of dolphins that live in the Mediterranean sea came to visit us. They were since observed on numerous occasions, mainly near fishing boats, where they could find plenty of food. It is estimated that in the year 2011, 300-400 common dolphins have lived near the shores of Israel.
There are certain species of dolphins near the Israeli coastline, including: bottlenose, striped, common, Risso’s and rough-toothed dolphins, and the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. All were identified by the IMMRAC(Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center) organization which studies the cetacean populations that inhabit the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat. They study their habitat, behavior, and trends in the population of dolphins. They also respond to real-time reports of distressed dolphins and run a modest rehabilitation facility for sick and injured animals. IMMRAC volunteers also name certain individuals and follow their appearance in the area. For example, the female dolphin Suki was identified in 2005 and was watched 6 times in 2011. The most recent identified dolphin was named Lior on December 2011.
If sailing for hours in an attempt to watch dolphins in the Mediterranean is not your “cup of tea” and you prefer a more immediate satisfaction, you may consider the Eilat Dolphin Reef, on the shores of the Red Sea. This is a unique ecological site where a group of “bottlenose” dolphins, including babies born at the site, maintain their daily routine of hunting, playing, courting and socializing. They are free to choose between human company or to continue their daily routine in the group. Visitors can enjoy getting close to the dolphins from floating piers and observation points or during guided swims or dives. The dolphins can choose to approach humans but they are not forced to do so by any means.
IMMRAC: Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center
דּוֹלְפִין
Transliteration: dolphin
Translation: dolphin
Part of speech: noun, masculine
לַהֲקָה
Transliteration:lahaka
Translation: pod
Part of speech: noun, feminine
יוֹנֵקיַמִּי
Transliteration:yonekyami
Translation: marine mammal
Part of speech: noun+adjective, masculine
Hebrew Song
Dolphin
Lyric and music:RonitShefi
דולפין
מיליםולחן:רונית שפי
Dolphin, the water wraps you around with love.
Dolphin, the wind caresses your skin.
You swim into my soul
And set it free.
Dolfin, hamayimotfimotxabe’ahava.
Dolfin, haru’axmelatefet et orxa.
Atasoxe el toxnafshi
Umeshaxrerotalexofshi.
דּוֹלְפִין, הַמַּיִםעוֹטְפִיםאוֹתְךָבְּאַהֲבָה.
דּוֹלְפִין, הָרוּחַמְלַטֶּפֶת אֶת עוֹרְךָ.
אַתָּהשׂוֹחֶה אֶל תּוֹךְנַפְשִׁי
וּמְשַׁחְרֵראוֹתָהּ לְחָפְשִׁי.
You can listen to RonitShefi singing her beautiful song in the Hebrew languagehere.
Hebrew WordSearch (תִּפְזֹרֶת)
See if you can find all of the words in the puzzle below:
Hebrew Names
שׁוּנִית
Name:
Shunit
Gender:
Female
Meaning:
The word "שׁוּנִית", or "שֻׁנִּית" means: reef.
יָם
Name:
Yam
Gender:
Male, female
Meaning:
Sea, ocean.
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Did you know that there are dolphins living near the shores of Israel? When they were first observed during the 
