In a sight not seen in the area for more than two decades, male whales have been spotted racing and fighting to capture the attention of a female off SA's south-east coast.
It is just the second time in more than two decades that the mating behaviour has been observed by researchers in the area.The whales will migrate from feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to breeding grounds off Indonesia.
"Typically it's an adult female in the lead being pursued by two presumably amorous males who are competing with each other very physically to try and displace each other," he said. "If you were in a small boat and you saw this coming towards you, you'd be well advised to start your motor and get out of the way," he said."It'd be like being hit by a B-double truck, only much heavier — or perhaps a train's a better analogy."
" did look a bit skinny – her backbone was quite accentuated – but the other two did seem to be in fairly well-fed conditions," he said.Dr Gill said it was "not a good year for life" in the upwelling zone."I know that the tuna fishermen from Port Lincoln are not finding the fish in their usual places this year."These upwellings need to settle down and warm up a little bit and let the food supplies develop, but that just doesn't seem to be happening this year.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
White whale Migaloo may be dead, report suggestsA new report claims he could have died tangled in a shark net that went missing in 2021.
Read more »
‘Amazing sound vibrated through my body’: What it’s like when a whale sings near youWildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta dives into the magical world of whale song.
Read more »
‘Amazing sound vibrated through my body’: What it’s like when a whale sings near youWildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta dives into the magical world of whale song.
Read more »
‘Amazing sound vibrated through my body’: What it’s like when a whale sings near youWildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta dives into the magical world of whale song.
Read more »
How humans are taking whale food and feeding it to cats and dogs“It’s like a dystopian, post-apocalyptic David Attenborough documentary where you have penguins swimming on one side and a massive trawler on the other.”
Read more »
How humans are taking whale food and feeding it to cats and dogs“It’s like a dystopian, post-apocalyptic David Attenborough documentary where you have penguins swimming on one side and a massive trawler on the other.”
Read more »