Every tail has a tale!
What are the Salty Sea Dogs up to today?
Each day out on the ocean is different. Sometimes we just go out and see what we can find.
Other times, we have a mission in mind.
Today, we are out on the Atlantic ocean side of Cape Town and we are on the lookout for humpback whales.
At this time of the year, it is the season for seeing humpback whales off the western coastline of Cape Town, and all the way up to Cape Columbine which is about 165 kilometers north of Cape Town.
A Reason for a Season
Many wild animals travel large distances throughout their lives. They do this for a number of reasons. Two of these reasons are to find food or prey, and to give birth or reproduce in areas that are safe and suitable.
When animals are found in certain areas at certain times of the year, this is called’ seasonal.’
In this case, during our South African summer months, large numbers of humpback whales move along the western coastline of the Western Cape and form big feeding aggregations. Here they are feeding on billions of tiny shrimplike creatures called euphausiids.
Check out this microscopic ‘little guy’ called a euphausiid !
The Salty Sea Dogs are on high alert and eagerly look over the gunnels of the boat.
Sights, sounds and smells!
Chris drives the boat, and everyone spots as we ride along.
Up ahead, we hear a big exhalation. A whale has just surfaced from feeding deep below and is now catching its breath.
Monique and Lucy are spotting up at the bow of the boat, and spot the whale as it exhales close by.
We have found a pod of about 15 humpback whales!
But, not only can we hear and see the whales … we can smell them too! Believe it not, the humpback whales burp and fart a whole lot! It can be surprisingly smelly when close to them!
Photo’s with a purpose – snap away!
Monique and Chris have their cameras ready. Their mission today is to photograph flukes of the humpback whales.
A fluke in the underneath side of a whale’s tail, and each fluke is different from whale to whale. Unique markings and characteristics to each fluke means taking photographs is a great way to identify different whales.
Best of all, this means we don’t have to touch, tag or take samples from the whales at all. It is therefore a non-invasive type of research.
Chris and Monique will share their fluke images with whale researchers. The researchers will use this information to monitor where the whales are moving to, and how long they stay in an area.
Hard at work!
Chris carefully drives the boat, and Monique is ready with the camera. The Salty Sea Dogs can’t wait to see more whales!
A whale surfaces close by, and Monique gets ready!
Just as she lifts her camera, a whale prepares to dive deep below. As it does so, it lifts its tail high in the air, beautifully showing its fluke. Monique fires away!
The day is a success and the Salty Sea Dog team have photographed 9 new whale flukes. Look at how different they are!
Paws for thought – we must always be respectful when close to any wild animals.
Even though we have a permit to work close enough to the whales in order to photograph them, it is super important to be respectful to them at all times.
Surviving in the wild is a full-time job, and when food is available, it is very important that we don’t disturb any wildlife from being able to feed.
A whale of a time!
Sandi, Brownie and Lucy have had a magical day out with the humpback whales.
As we prepare to leave the whales, Brownie looks over to us as if to say, ‘Please may we stay!’
Until the next time,
Big Woofs from the Waves to you all!
