Whale watchers were excited on Thursday morning, July 24, when some VIP whales stopped in at Soldiers Beach and Norah Head.
A mother southern right whale and her calf slowly swam around the rocks and off the beach, delighting onlookers.
The whales had “risen to fame” earlier in the week when the calf was, unfortunately, the victim of a boat strike.
Southern right whales are listed as endangered, and a highly protected species in NSW waters.
They belong to a special population which frequents the southeast coast of Australia.
It is believed these animals number between 150 and 200.
Marine Mammal Specialist with Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast Ronny Ling said despite being nationally protected since 1935, illegal whaling of the species continued.
“During the whaling period, which lasted until the late 60s in Australia, these wonderful whales were almost driven into extinction,” he said.
“So when one swims off the Central Coast it’s very significant.”
Marine Mammal Research Central Coast has a data base of visits of southern right whales which have visited the Central Coast over the past 35 years, including sightings and photographs.
“These special whales have markings as individual as our own fingerprints,” Ling said.
“We can cross reference if these whales have visited our coast before.
“Right whales were named such, as they were considered the ‘right whales’ to hunt.
“They travel very close to shore, have the highest boil yield and float when they are dead.
“These were the perfect target for whalers.
“Southern right whales are identified by their rotund black shape, white callosities on their head (lumps of toughened skin), lack of a dorsal fin, V-shaped blow and their slow travel close to shore.
“Adults can measure up to 18m in length and weigh in at over 80 tonnes.
“A newborn calf is around 5m in length and around one tonne in weight.
“Calves are very pale in colour and darken as they age.”
If you sight these whales, or are concerned about any whale, call Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast on 0478 439 965.
