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Read More >A whale of a story
Whales belong to a group of animals called cetaceans that include dolphins and porpoises. The whale is the earth’s largest mammal. It breathes air and feeds its young on milk.
The Southern Right Whale
The Southern Right Whale can be recognised by its smooth, black back and lack of dorsal fin. On the head of each Southern Right Whale are a number of crusty outgrowths called callosities. The callosities pattern varies from whale to whale. Irregular white patches sometimes found on the whale’s belly distinguish these animals from other species.
Why are they 'the right whale?'
The early whalers regarded the whale as the ‘right’ whale to hunt. They swam slowly and close to the shore, floated once harpooned, and yielded large quantities of oil and whalebone. The word “Southern” relates to southern waters.
The birth of a whale
Whales breed once every two or three years. Pregnancy lasts between nine and 10 months and the calf suckles from a milk gland beneath the mother’s body. The calf is about five to six metres long at birth, grows quickly, and may double its weight in the first week.
Are whales protected?
Whales are protected in Australian waters by Federal and State laws. Fines of up to $100,000 may be imposed for harassment.
How big do these whales grow?
The average length of the adult Southern Right Whale is 15 metres, the average weight is 50 tonnes, with maximum length of 18 metres and a weight of 96 tonnes.
How do they communicate?
Whales are social animals and display degrees of organisation, behaviour and intelligence. Whales use sound to communicate. Breaching (leaping out of the water) and tail lobbing (hitting the tail on the water) are also ways of communicating and playing.
Additional information
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate the continuing threats to whales and dolphins and their habitat: www.wdcs.org.au
The Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching 2005 outlines the standards that allow people to observe and interact with whales and dolphins in a way that ensures animals are not harmed. You can download these guidelines from: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/cetaceans/index.html
Whales are migratory animals travelling vast distances to feed and reproduce in the world’s oceans and bays. You can view their annual migration through this animated map: http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=94531
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