Endangered whales breeding off Tasmania
by Admin on Aug.31, 2009, under Conservation, News
There is further confirmation that endangered southern right whales are returning to calve and nurse in Tasmanian waters.
Southern right whales calved and nursed their young in large numbers in Tasmanian waters until the early 1800s, when they were hunted to near extinction.
Two weeks ago a biologist photographed a mother and her calf in sheltered waters off Swansea, on Tasmania’s east coast.
Now biologist David Pemberton says a Victorian whale expert has confirmed the calf was born one or two days before the photo, and that the mother had been in the area for at least three days.
Mr Pemberton says an abalone diver has also seen a southern right whale give birth off Tasmania’s wild west coast.
“There’s some neat little bays hidden there and these animals go so close to shore when they are birthing and nursing that they find these little quiet spots - and that’s what we’re after,” he said.