First Southern Right Mum and Calf for 2023
By Claudia Sforna

1. News

A few days ago, during one of our tours, we had a wonderful encounter with a beautiful and huge Southern Right Whale mother and her newborn calf.

Southern Right Whales are baleen whales that live in the Southern Hemisphere, as their name suggests. They were called "Right Whales" because they were considered the "right species" to hunt. They move slowly and float on the surface for long periods, making them easy to spot and catch.

They are considered one of the largest and most massive cetaceans, ranging in length from 15 to 18 meters and weighing up to 50 tons. Their bodies are almost completely black, they lack a dorsal fin, and they have distinctive callosities on the top of their heads. These callosities, covered in barnacles, are unique to each individual and are used for identification.

Southern Right Whales are  a migratory species. They spend the summer feeding in the deep and krill-rich waters of the Antarctic. During the winter months (June to October/December), they migrate to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America to give birth to their calves. The calves are too weak and tiny to survive in the cold waters, so the whales travel over 10,000 km to shallower and warmer waters. Once the calves are big enough, they return to the Antarctic to feed in the deeper and nutrient-rich waters.

Southern Right Whales were heavily hunted during the whaling industry, and their populations were almost extinct. It wasn't until 1937 that harpooning was banned, and the population began to recover. Today, there are signs of a slight recovery from whaling, but unfortunately, this species is still considered endangered. In some places, like Chile and Peru, the populations have never recovered, requiring special protection.

Hunting is now forbidden in most countries, but the biggest threats to whales include entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with vessels, habitat degradation, and changes in water conditions due to climate change.

We feel so lucky to STILL have the opportunity to see these incredible animals here in Algoa Bay. Don't miss the chance to experience this emotional encounter and join us on our next cruises! Thank you to Tertius Beyleveld for the footage.