Help DOC spot the right whales
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Southern Right Whale. Image: Nicola Valllance
Click to enlarge
6 July 2006
Help DOC spot the right whales
The hunt is on to find out whether New Zealand has its own population of ‘homegrown’ southern right whales (tohora).
For the third year in a row, the Department of Conservation is appealing to the public for reports of sightings of
southern right whales in a bid to determine whether the whales in our coastal waters are a separate population from
their southern ocean relatives.
“If the mainland whales do represent a smaller separate population, we need to know about it so we can ensure that these
whales are best protected from any potential impacts, such as marine farms, ship strikes and coastal development, ” said
Helen McConnell, DOC marine mammal advisor.
Southern right whales have been spotted in coastal areas around Auckland – last winter off Waiheke Island and
Whangapaoroa and the year before in the Kaipara Harbour. Both these sightings contributed information to the national
study.
Because southern right whales spend a large portion of their winter breeding months (June – September) very close to the
shore in sheltered waters, they can be easily spotted from land.
“The winter migration of the southern right whales is exciting because it provides a rare opportunity for members of the
public to see large whales from the coast,” said Ms McConnell.
Reports of sightings from the public have helped DOC gain valuable information about the whales so far. In fact public
sightings led to the first genetic samples being taken this year from two whales off the New Plymouth coast recently.
“In the last three years we have obtained 21 genetic samples from southern right whales around New Zealand, largely
thanks to tip-offs from the public, and we’ve got many good quality photographs for individual identification as well.”
To date, none of the whales identified around the mainland have been seen in areas further a field. This supports the
theory that they may indeed be geographically isolated from other populations, but more data is necessary in order to
confirm this theory.
Regardless of the findings of the study, Ms McConnell is of the opinion that we should be celebrating the return of
these majestic creatures to our coasts after they all but disappeared following intensive commercial whaling last
century.
Southern right whale sightings should be reported to DOC, preferably as soon as possible after the sighting is made, on
0800 DOCHOT line (0800 36 24 68). DOC needs to know the date, time and location of the sighting; the number of whales;
whether there were any calves; and their direction of travel.
Photos help identify individual whales, especially those of the left side of the head, and of the full body length.
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Background
Right whales were so-called because they were the “right” whales to kill - large, slow-moving beasts that obligingly
floated when dead and yielded large amounts of valuable oil, bone and baleen.
Once thought to number 16,000 in New Zealand waters, including the sub-Antarctic, they had all but disappeared by 1860
because of whaling pressure. In one winter season, in 1836, at least 97 whales were killed by crews from three whaling
ships in Lyttelton Harbour alone.
Adults are on average 14.5m long, and newborn calves, between 4.5m and 6m. They are mostly black in colour and can be
identified by their lack of a dorsal fin, a V-shaped blowhole spray, and white growths on their heads called
callosities. Each whale has a unique callosity pattern.
Whales should be approached slowly, quietly and cautiously, and no closer than 50m, preferably from behind or parallel
to them. Boaties are requested not to obstruct their path, cut through a group or separate mothers from calves, and to
cut their engines if a whale approaches their vessel. Making sudden noises may startle the animals and should be
avoided. Aircraft should keep a 150 m distance from whales and not fly directly over them.
ENDS