What to Expect of the Southern Right Whale in South Africa
The coastal regions of South Africa offer some of the best opportunities to observe Southern Right Whales during their visits from June to November. Observers can see adult whales breaching, tail flapping, spy-hopping, mating, and tending to their calves. They can also be seen swimming at speeds of 9 to 11 kilometers per hour, which seems slow but for a creature this size is impressive.
Apart from the captivating adults, whale watchers can also get the opportunity to spot their adorable calves. June to November is breeding season for these animals, where they turn the sheltered bays into their temporary homes. Observers can see calves engaged in nursing, resting on the water’s surface, breaching, tail slapping, their firsts breaths, and socializing.
The Southern Right Whale, or as it is scientifically known as Eubalaena australis, is one of the majestic animals that can be spotted off the shores of South Africa.
This creature got its common name from its dark past when it, along with other species of whales, was the victim of extensive whaling. It was given the name ‘right whale’ because it was seen as the right whale to capture, due to its meat and high oil content. The scientific name derives from the Greek word Eubalaena, meaning ‘true whale’, and the Latin word australis, meaning ‘southern’.
The Southern Right Whale is well known for its longevity, with its average lifespan going up to at least 70 years. However, some research has suggested that they can live up to 100 years under natural conditions.
Southern Right Whales are large marine mammals. An adult can grow up to a length of 13 to 17 meters, about the same size of a semi or fire truck. These adult whales also weigh up to an outstanding 80 tons.
Distribution and Migration
Just as its name suggests, the Southern Right Whale is primary spotted along coastlines in the southern hemisphere, including the shores of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Whale enthusiasts in South Africa can spot these whales primarily in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, but more specifically in the following locations: Hermanus, False Bay, Cape Agulhas, Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma Coast, Walker Bay, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay, and Mossel Bay.
This whale’s migration pattern is an essential aspect of its life cycle and is driven by its need to find breeding grounds as well as food sources. During the austral summer, which lasts between the months of December and May, the Southern Right Whale heads southward to the colder feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Then, as winter approaches, from June to November, they travel toward their breeding grounds, primarily South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. This migration spans a total distance of 3,200 to 8,000 kilometers, that’s about double the width of the United States of America.
Breeding and Gestation
When it comes to breeding the Southern Right Whale has been known to exhibit interesting behaviours.
The males can be seen engaging in competitive displays to gain the attention of the females, which often involves physical displays of strength and endurance. These displays include breaching, lob-tailing, and intense interactions with other males.
Female Southern Right Whales can mate with multiple males during a breeding season. Once they have fallen pregnant, a female will return to the same breeding grounds each year, showcasing a strong site fidelity, which is critical for their survival.
A Southern Right Whale’s gestation lasts approximately 12 months, and each female gives birth to a single calf every three years. The calves measure around 4.5 to 6 meters in length at birth, and because of their mother’s rich and fatty milk, they grow rapidly.
Feeding Habits
These whales primarily use a feeding technique called skim feeding. This method involves the whale swimming with its mouth open, allowing water and prey to flow in. They have baleen plates in their mouths that filter the water out, leaving the tiny organisms behind to be eaten. Their primary diet includes zooplankton, copepods, and krill.
Common Traits
Southern Right Whales are well known for their acrobatic displays, including breaching to heights reaching up to 3 to 4 meters out of the water. They are also known to engage in tail-slapping, where they hit the surface of the water with their tails. They are also often seen spy-hopping, which is where they rise vertically out of the water to look around.
All these behaviours, in addition to being a fascinating sight for whale watchers, are forms of communication, play, and to remove parasites. Southern Right Whales are also highly social animals, often seen in groups, particularly during the breeding season.
Conservation Status
As of today, the Southern Right Whale is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), even though certain populations are considered vulnerable. Despite this, the efforts in conservation have seen a positive impact, but active threats like entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and climate change continue to pose significant risks to this species.
