MORE ABOUT WHALES AND DOLPIN'S
Welcome to some
of the best land- and boat-based whale watching in the world. Each year,
Southern Right whales migrate into our coastal waters to calve and nurse
their young. The whales, mere meters from the shore, provide unsurpassed
whale watching opportunities between June and November. Humpback whales
migrate through our region between May and December. Dolphin species that
may be seen in the region include the common dolphin and the bottlenose
dolphin.
De Hoop Nature Reserve -
often referred to as the "whale nursery"- have the highest count of Southern
Rights along our coast during the height of the breeding months (August to
end October). St Sebastian Bay has the largest concentration of Southern
Rights on the South African Coast. The official helicopter count done in
October 2000 revealed 34 cow-calf pairs in the Bay, and 74 off de Hoop. On a
good day you can see up to 50. The areas designated for boat-based whale
watching has been carefully selected so as to not interfere with those
observing from the land.
The whales can also be
spotted at the old whaling slipway at Stony Point near Betty's Bay, at
Kleinmond, Onrus, De Kelders and don't forget to drive along the most
spectacular coastal Clarence drive route, especially the area between
Rooiels and Gordons Bay. The coastal road has turn-off places, where you can
stop and take some pictures or enjoy a sundowner while watching a
spectacular sunset. The route offers amazing views over False Bay, right up
to Table Mountain and Cape Point
Southern Right Whales are easily identified by the double or V-shaped blow, callosity patterns on the head region and the lack of dorsal fin. Southern Right whales are usually totally black in colour, although white patches can occur on the back and often on the belly. Their length is between 12.5 m -15.5 m, weighing between 30 - 60 tonnes.
Humpback
Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Humpback Whales are easily recognized by their long flippers (almost one
third of the body length), blunt dorsal fin and characteristic arching of
the back during surfacing. In contrast to the black upper body surface, the
flippers are white in colour. The blow is 2.5 - 3 m high. Their length is
between 11.5 m and 16 m, weighing about 40 tonnes.
Common
dolphins (Delphinus delphis)
Highly distinctive in having a yellow-brown blaze running on the flanks from
the eye to below the dorsal fin. This forms an elongated figure of eight.
Group sizes range from less than 50 to several thousand animals,
particularly during the time of the annual sardine run along the east coast.
Often associated with diving birds, feeding whales and penguins. They
measure up to 2.5 m, weighing up to 175 kg.
Bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops truncates)
The robust body has a dark grey dorsal cape. Light flanks and an even
lighter belly. Group size is highly variable from less than 50 individuals
in coastal water. Commonly observed close inshore, surfing and "porpoising"
in and out of breakers. The species is well known due to its appearance in
captivity. Their length is between 2.5 and 3.3 m, weighing from 200 to 350
kg.
Breeching is the most spectacular of whale habits, where the animal will sometimes thrust its whole body out of the water in massive, graceful leaps. No one knows for sure why whales breach - communicating with each other, trying to rid their skin of parasites or just play could be some of the reasons. They usually breach three to five time in succession.
Spy
hopping
Whales sometimes lift their heads vertically above the water and appear to
observe what's happening on the surface. This gives them a 360° view of the
world above. Whales are curios by nature and will often spy-hop to
investigate.
Sailing
This is when the tail is raised and kept vertical for long periods. It is
possibly a form of temperature control - blood in the tail flows very close
to the surface of the skin and cools the body when exposed to wind. It has
also been suggested that whales use the wind on the tail surface to push
their bodies through the water.
Lobtailing
Many species of whales have been observed thrashing their tails on the
surface of the water. This behaviour is known as lobtailing and is probably
a signal of some sort - a form of communication or a sign of alarm or
annoyance.
Blowing
The hollow, echoing sound made when air is expelled from the lungs through
the blowhole, accompanied by a spout of water vapor. The shape of the spout
enables whale watchers to identify the type of whale.
Grunting
A loud, bellowing sound that carries up to 2 km away, often heard at night.
Mating
A number of males will attempt to mate with a single female. She may take
evasive action by fleeing into shallower waters or by rolling onto her back.
Mating is a brief activity and each of the males may mate with the female.
· Females produce calves on average once every three years.
· Southern Right calves grow at about three cm per day and feed on almost 600 litres of milk per day while sucking.
· Southern Rights were the first of the large whales to be protected in 1935.
· Southern Rights dive to a maximum depth of about 300 meters.
· Lifespan is unknown but is presumed to exceed 50 years
Humpback
Whale…
· Sings long complex songs in the breeding season. Males sing songs to
attract females.
· The reason humpback whales have recovered at a rate of 10 per cent as
opposed to the Southern Right 7 per cent, is probably due to the Humpback
whale often giving birth every second year, Southern Rights give birth every
third year.
· Females reach sexual maturity when they are about 12m long and are larger
than mature males.
Dolphins…
· Bottlenose dolphins have a maximum diving time of about eight minutes and
probably never dive deeper than 40m.
· Dolphins do not have a sense of smell.
· Dolphins have exceptionally good eyesight.
· Dolphin calves are born tail first so that their heads only enter the
water when birth is completed.
· Dolphins only reach their full size after 12 years. They live for about 20
years, many for more than 30 years.