Rare sighting of southern right whale in Hervey Bay

A southern right whale mother and calf have been sighted in Queensland’s Hervey Bay – more than 1500 kilometres north of their usual breeding and nursing grounds.

Trish and Wally Franklin, researchers with Southern Cross University’s Whale Research Centre and directors of The Oceania Project, which operates in Hervey Bay, photographed the mum and calf yesterday (September 7).

It is only the third time since 2001 that a southern right whale has been recorded in waters this far north. Southern right whales are usually found in the waters off Victoria and southern Australia. In recent weeks sightings have also been recorded off the coast of Tasmania.

“The first southern right whale we sighted in Hervey Bay was back in 2001 and that was the most northerly sighting of a southern right whale. That was quite an extraordinary event,” Trish Franklin said.

“In 2005 we sighted a juvenile southern right whale, and today we saw this mother and a calf. We have photographed the mother and we will be sending that information to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment to see if it can be identified.”

Southern right whales are larger than humpbacks, but unlike humpback whales they have no dorsal fin. They are also distinguished by the callosities (callus) around their blowholes. Southern right and humpback whales migrate north from Antarctica to Australia during the winter to mate, breed and nurse their young.

Trish said the mother sighted yesterday was estimated to be around 13 to 14 metres long, while the calf was thought to be only a couple of metres long and very young.

“It’s a really encouraging sign and adds to the evidence that the southern right whales are choosing Hervey Bay as a suitable place to bring their newly born calves,” she said.

Photo: This photo of a southern right whale was taken by Trish Franklin in Hervey Bay.