Southern right whale sighting a rare event
The National Parks and Wildlife Service believes a southern right whale and its calf set the record for the most northerly sighting of this species in NSW when they spent Tuesday morning thrilling Byron Bay locals and visitors.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Byron Area Manager Sue Walker said the mother and calf were first sighted early in the morning just offshore near the Wollongbar wreck.
Ms Walker said the southern right whale is ‘the other’ large species of whale found off the NSW coast especially during late winter and spring.
“Often these will be pregnant females looking for a safe, quiet area to calve, and, if undisturbed, the mother and her new baby may remain in the same general area for many hours or even days,” Ms walker said.
“At these times it is not unusual to see the mother and calf in very shallow water even inside the breakers as the suckling calf learns to swim and dive.”
Once hunted to extinction, southern right whales have increasingly been reported off the north coast as their population rebuilds and they begin returning to parts of their former range.
“Last year in a similar event a mother and calf captivated locals at Yamba,” Ms Walker said.
Changes to marine mammal approach distances became effective from 1 June 2006 which now means there are consistent regulations throughout Australia that are designed to ensure whales are safe when in our water and that people can still continue to enjoy watching them.
“People need to appreciate that when we see these animals they are undergoing one of the longest journeys of any animal in the world and that the mother is very protective of its new baby,” Ms Walker said.
“Due consideration needs to be extended by all people approaching whales, including boats or any other craft. This is especially important in the case of the adults with calves, which may be either resting or suckling.”
Further information can be obtained from the NPWS Cape Byron Headland Reserve Office.
