TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A research ship reported a successful trip after gathering data from marine life, including a school of sperm whales, on Monday (May 27).

Marine educator Liao Hung-chi (廖鴻基) led the five-hour-long research trip into the surrounding waters of Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖). He expressed delight at the marine life they encountered and the data gathered, per CNA.

Spinner dolphins, Fraser’s dolphins, flying fish, and a school of nine sperm whales were spotted. One or two of the sperm whales were 16 meters long, exceeding the length of the research vessel.

The trip was part of the Hualien Formosa Foundation's (花福爾摩沙協會) Pacific Sperm Whale Pi Project (太平洋抹香鯨π計畫) to study sperm whales so that the government can form better conservatory measures.

Since the return of sperm whales, whale-watching business owner Lu Shih-ming (呂世明) said he wondered if tourists would return too.