Southern Right Whales: Mother and calf spotted near Sydney Harbor on a southerly trip to Antarctica
- Two rare whales spotted in Sydney
- The animals made the detour on their way to Antarctica
- People were urged to catch a glimpse from a distance
Two very rare southern right whales have been spotted off Sydney’s northern beaches as the mother and calf duo enter the port city for their treacherous journey to Antarctica.
The whales have made a pit stop on their southward journey and are relatively quiet in shallow waters northeast of Long Reef, whale conservation group ORRCA said.
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service authorities are asking the public to keep at least 300 meters away to avoid disturbing the whales, potentially causing them to move further and tire unnecessarily.
Two southern right whales were spotted off Sydney’s northern beaches on Saturday morning, heading for the coastline before the pair headed to Antarctica
Quiet, undisturbed time in shallow, sandy-bottomed bays and protected beaches is a critical stage in the development of the southern right whale.
The calf is expected to consume about 300 liters of milk a day to gain strength before the pair begin the long journey to Antarctica, park ranger Andy Marshall said.
“The biggest threat to the survival of southern right whales in NSW waters is disturbance from humans getting too close,” he said.
Any disturbance to the whales not only jeopardizes a calf’s ability to suckle and develop, but it could also drive them into deeper waters, where they’re exposed to predation from killer whales and sharks, the ranger said.
People have been urged to keep their distance from the two whales as conservation authorities are concerned the attention will influence the whale and its calf to prepare for their journey south
The pair were first seen on July 27 in Coffs Harbor and authorities have followed them as they walked along the coast.
Mr Marshall said the calf was born about two days before the sighting and was resting and nursing in Coffs Harbour, Scott’s Head, Port Macquarie, Forster, Port Stephens and Swansea along the NSW north coast.
The whales are currently in the waters northeast of Long Reef, but were first sighted by whale watchers in Coffs Harbor on July 27.
NSW game watchers work with ORRCA, marine rescue services, police and transport authorities to monitor the whales and ensure they remain undisturbed by the public.
Southern right whales are an endangered species, with less than 270 in the South East Australian population.
This calf is one of only two registered in NSW this year.