Cuts on calf's back blamed on boaties

Andre Hueber | 6th August 2009

A southern right whale and her injured calf have been spotted off the Tutukaka Coast, and boaties have been asked to give them space.

The pair were first sighted in the Hauraki Gulf early last week before stopping off at Omaha Beach, near Warkworth, on Wednesday and Ruakaka on Thursday, Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Bryce Lummis said.

On Tuesday, the mother and child were only 50m off the Tutukaka coast in the vicinity of Taiharuru and Pataua Inlet.

"They're curious and, if they come to your boat, let the motor idle or shut it off and give them space," Mr Lummis said.

Marine mammal expert Ingrid Visser said the calf appeared to have been hit by a boat.

"It wasn't malicious, but people don't realise calves are like little kids and dogs that don't understand how they can get hurt by a boat."

The 6m-long calf had cuts across its back and  tail but did not seem to be in too much pain as it was playing with its 15m-long 60,000kg mum, sliding on and off her back, and pushing its head on top of her tail, Dr Visser said. Legally, people were not allowed to come closer than 100m, and no more than three boats  were supposed to be near the duo at any time, Dr Visser said.

"Never approach whales from the front. Because they're coastal it's easy to box them in - it's important to give them a path away."

It was better for boats to gather together "like a bunch of bananas" rather than encircle the whales, which might make them feel threatened, Dr Visser said.

"By coming into bays, the mother was seeking quiet and protection for her calf and, if people harassed them, they would be driven away."

The southern right whale was almost hunted to extinction during the early 1890s. It received its name after becoming known as the "right whale" to hunt - it was large, slow, contained a great deal of blubber and oil, and floated on the surface when killed.

Little is known about southern right breeding or migration patterns in New Zealand and DoC and Dr Visser are keen to follow the whales' movements.

 If you spot the pair, contact Ingrid Visser on 0800SEEORCA or DoC on 0800 DOCHOT.