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| Close encounter: mother and calf humpback whales stun surfers at Sydney's Manly beach | Close encounter: mother and calf humpback whales stun surfers at Sydney's Manly beach |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Images show dozens of surfers about 10 metres from whales, which migrate up and down the Australian coast | Images show dozens of surfers about 10 metres from whales, which migrate up and down the Australian coast |
| A humpback whale calf, closely followed by its mother, came within metres of surfers and swimmers at Manly beach, in Sydney’s north, on Sunday afternoon. | |
| It is unusual to see a whale calf so early in the year in Sydney. Eastern Australian humpbacks migrate north from Antarctica, along the coast to tropical waters in north Queensland from April to July. | It is unusual to see a whale calf so early in the year in Sydney. Eastern Australian humpbacks migrate north from Antarctica, along the coast to tropical waters in north Queensland from April to July. |
| The whales give birth in the warmer waters and often mothers and calves are spotted heading south during the latter part of the Australian spring. | The whales give birth in the warmer waters and often mothers and calves are spotted heading south during the latter part of the Australian spring. |
| One boardrider, Josh, told Guardian Australia he had never seen a whale, particularly a calf, come so close to the beach at Manly. | One boardrider, Josh, told Guardian Australia he had never seen a whale, particularly a calf, come so close to the beach at Manly. |
| “There was a bit of pointing going on and I looked round and the little one was just there,” Josh said. | “There was a bit of pointing going on and I looked round and the little one was just there,” Josh said. |
| “Then mum came in pretty quick smart, I think when she realised how close people were. | “Then mum came in pretty quick smart, I think when she realised how close people were. |
| “You often see [whales] further out the back but this one just came right up to where people were hanging on their boards.” | “You often see [whales] further out the back but this one just came right up to where people were hanging on their boards.” |
| Images show dozens of surfers watching from about 10m from the mother humpback and calf. | Images show dozens of surfers watching from about 10m from the mother humpback and calf. |
| Initially there was some concern that one of the whales had been caught in a shark net, but surfers said that was not the case. | Initially there was some concern that one of the whales had been caught in a shark net, but surfers said that was not the case. |
| “I think everyone was just paddling up to get a good look. It’s the sort of thing you won’t forget seeing.” | “I think everyone was just paddling up to get a good look. It’s the sort of thing you won’t forget seeing.” |
| Last week researchers from the University of NSW found that while whale watching season in Australia is often a tourism drawcard, many humpbacks were not in optimum health during the return leg of the migration. | Last week researchers from the University of NSW found that while whale watching season in Australia is often a tourism drawcard, many humpbacks were not in optimum health during the return leg of the migration. |
| The researchers collected and analysed samples of whale blow – similar to mucus from a human nose – and found “significantly less” microbial diversity and richness on journey south. | The researchers collected and analysed samples of whale blow – similar to mucus from a human nose – and found “significantly less” microbial diversity and richness on journey south. |
| Their paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, said this indicated the whales were likely in poorer health than when their journey began. | Their paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, said this indicated the whales were likely in poorer health than when their journey began. |
| “People enjoy whale-watching season, but with it comes reports of whales becoming stranded,” said the study’s lead author, science researcher Catharina Vendl. | “People enjoy whale-watching season, but with it comes reports of whales becoming stranded,” said the study’s lead author, science researcher Catharina Vendl. |
| “Although humpback whale stranding events occur naturally and regularly to injured and young whales, it is crucial to monitor the population health of this iconic species to ensure its long-term survival. | “Although humpback whale stranding events occur naturally and regularly to injured and young whales, it is crucial to monitor the population health of this iconic species to ensure its long-term survival. |
| “Humpback whales do not only play an essential role in their marine ecosystem but also represent an important economic resource because whale-watching is a booming industry in many Australian cities and around the world.” | “Humpback whales do not only play an essential role in their marine ecosystem but also represent an important economic resource because whale-watching is a booming industry in many Australian cities and around the world.” |