Southern Right Whales of Hermanus

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalena australis) is a baleen whale, which means that instead of teeth it has long plates hanging from its top jaw, working like a sieve when the whale feeds. There are about 260 pairs of these baleen plates, the largest measuring around 9 feet long and a foot across at the base. Its tongue alone can weigh as much as 1.5 tons!

Its name
The name of the Right Whale dates back to the days when they were referred to as the "right"  whales to kill because they would float when dead - making it easier for the whalers to find them in the ocean and transport them back to the whaling station. The Right Whale also has a large amount of oil (also called blubber) and baleen.

There are two species worldwide, one in the Northern Hemisphere and one found in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Their appearance
The Southern Right differs from most other whales in the following ways:

• It has no dorsal fin on its back

• When it breathes out there is a V-shaped cloud above the water

• There is a presence of callosities on its head. These callosities are white warts or rough skin patches on which little creatures, called whale lice, are attached. These markings enable whale experts to individually identify the whales.

The Southern Right's movements
A slow swimmer (5-9 knots/9km per hour), the Southern Right Whale is a migratory mammal, spending one season in one place and the rest of the year in another. They travel long distances inbetween these seasons. In the Southern Hemisphere summer (December through May), they remain in the cold polar regions where food (mainly krill) is present and plentiful. Winters (June through November) are spent around the shallow coastal waters of Southern Africa, South America and Australia.
The shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered bays of the South African coastline are perfect for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting.

Mating and Calving
One female will mate with a number of males - as many as 8 at a time. During mating, there is a lot of activity on the surface (splashing, pushing, shoving, large and frequent blows). It is truly awesome to stand on a cliff top looking down upon such activity! Mostly though, the "action" takes place a bit further from shore, when a number of pods are visible. It's thought that the male producing the most sperm is probably the father of the calf, and such mating strategy is known as sperm competition.

Stephen Wong has an excellent gallery of Southern Right Whale photos

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The Southern Right female whale usually has one calf every three to five years. Gestation (pregnancy) is about 13 months, with most calves being born during August. They have an average length of 6.1 metres (20 feet). They suckle for 4 to 8 months and drink up to 600 litres of milk per day growing 3 cm (1.2 inch) per day. The mothers apparently do not feed during this time but live on the blubber they store up during the summer feeding season closer to Antarctica.

The birth is quite stressful, as the calf is released directly into the cold water, thereby losing boy heat instantly. It is born tail-first, and surfaces to take in air as soon as the umblical cord is broken. The calves suckle on milk till they reach a size of around 8-9 metres. This takes place quite close to the surface.

Here in the bay at Hermanus, it is fascinating to see the cows holding what can only be "whale kindergarten classes"!  The mothers and their helpers can be seen teaching the little ones how to breach - usually very close to shore. The right whale grows rapidly in its first year, typically doubling in length. Weaning occurs after eight months to one year.

After the mating and calving season ends (November / December), the Southern Right Whales move South. By April they are between 50 and 55 degrees South (2000 kilometres or 1300 miles South of Cape Town) where they then feed.

Their only long-term bonds are between mother and calf.

Size and Weight
Females measure about 13.9m and males are generally slightly smaller, with the average weight estimated at 41 tons. They have a life expectancy of up to 100 years.

Food
Their favourite food is small animals called copepods (a plankton crustacean) of which they consume up to 600kg per day. The right whale's diet consists primarily of zooplankton and tiny crustaceans such as copepods, as well as krill. They feed by "skimming" along with their mouth open. 

Sounds
Vocalizations made by right whales are not as elaborate as those of most other whale species, consisting mainly of groans, pops and belches. It is assumed that the purpose of the sounds is a form of communication between whales within the same group.

Enemies
The right whale's only predators are the orca and HUMANS. Sharks are know to attack young calves or injured whales.

Sleep
Southern Right Whales rest on the surface of the sea

Their number grows by about 7% every year, which means that their population doubles every 10 years. The number of Southern Right Whales should be back to what it used to be by 2040.

Other Whales
Apart from the Southern Right Whale, the Bryde's Whale (pronounced broodus) is a common sight in this area. Usually found singly or in groups of 2-3, they remain close to shore and seem to be year-round residents. Although not a "spectacular" whale to watch, they have on occasion surprised with their behaviour!  A guide on one of the whale watching boats witnessed a Bryde's whale breaching right next to the vessel - the first time he'd ever seen it happen.  Late in 2007, while we were having lunch at the Quayside Restaurant, a Bryde's caused quite stir when he ventured into the harbour at speed, took a look about and then sped off again!

The Humpback Whale has become an increasingly regular visitor to these parts and is usually found further from shore - the chances of encountering one is greatest if you go out on one of the whale watching boats.