Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash

This is the moment a pod of sperm whales swims close to the surface off the Spanish coast.

The video was filmed as part of the ‘Connected Seas’ project involving the Tursiops association and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) off the northern coast of Menorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands.

The project is designed to gather more information on the local whale population and take necessary action to better protect them.

Experts on board the ship ‘Irivi’ said they spotted 12 sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) calves between 20th and 30th June and a total of 44 whales in the same period.

In the recently released project footage, three whales are seen swimming in the Mediterranean Sea with a small calf as another whale approaches them from the side.

Tursiops scientific director Txema Brotons said in a press release: “The presence of social groups with calves found in northern Menorca tells us that we need to better protect the area for this species.”

WWF Spain coordinator Oscar Esparza said in the press release: “We have an opportunity to set up a management plan for animals in the Mediterranean and also take measures to lower the threats they face.”

As well as sperm whales, experts also spotted seven other species including manta rays, turtles and dolphins.