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Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
Contributed by Rosemary Tully of Whakatane Bird Rescue.
Photos by Rosemary Tully
 The
Right Whale was so called because the whalers found it was the right whale
to catch, it was slow moving, came in close to land and floated when killed.
When killed it supplied large quantities of oil, meat and whalebone.
The population of right whales (southern) stands at around 3 - 5000 and
its status on the IUCN Red List is - LR (cd).
To view the IUCN Red List go to www.redlist.org/
The Southern Right Whale is in the baleen family of whales and has baleen
plates in its mouth; these hang down from the upper jaw and have stiff
hairs on. This
is used to filter the seawater from the food. It has a diet of krill or
crustaceans. The
back of the whale is smooth and it has no fin.
Callosities (horny growth whitish cream in colour) are to be found on
the head. This
identifies each whale, (like fingerprints on humans).
The above photograph shows a mother and calf just off Torere Beach.
The calf is blowing and you can see White Island (Whakaari) in the distance.
 These
whales seem to go past our area in August and September.
Quiet often they have a calf with them.
Over the last few years we have had very few sightings.
In August 2002 a Southern Right Whale was seen travelling east past the
Whakatane Heads.
It is an offence to harass any marine mammal. Marine Mammals Protection
Regulations 1992. No.19.
(b) No vessel shall approach within 50 metres of a whale, unless authorized
by the Director-General:
(f) No person or vessel shall approach within 200 metres of any female
baleen or sperm whale that is accompanied by a calf or calves.
Noise can also upset marine mammals.
© Ohope Beach.info 2003
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