Whales-Southern Right Whale

Whales – Whaling  – a short history

Whales-Southern Right Whale, have visited our South African coastline for centuries and Hermanus is one of their favourite playgrounds.

Southern Right whales were given their name as they were considered the right whale to hunt because they were found close to shore and they floated once they had been killed, allowing them to be towed to land.

Join Africansunroad on an amazing Whale Trail Hike, please review the details below.

Species

There are 3 species of Right Whale, Eubalaena australis, Eubalaena japonica and Eubalaena glacialis. The latter two species are northern hemisphere species – japonica is found in the North Pacific Ocean and glacialis in the North Atlantic Ocean. The three species are genetically and geographically isolated from each other.

Exploitation and Protection

This species of whale was almost exterminated by whalers in open-boats between 1790 and 1825; accurate records weren’t kept for that period of whale hunting. The League of Nations tried to ban Southern Right whale exploitation and they were ‘protected’ from commercial whaling in 1931. However neither the Cape nor Natal Provinces incorporated any of the Leagues provisions regarding Whales-Southern Right Whale into domestic legislation. Over 3000 Southern Right whales were killed by the Soviets between 1950 and 1960. When whales-Southern Right Whale was protected in 1931 only 1% of their original population remained, the devastation was so profound that the Southern Right whale only returned to Hermanus in 1960. Regulations passed in 1979 finally put an end to 184 years of whale slaughtering of Whales-Southern Right Whales off southern Africa’s coasts, and although still only at a tiny fraction of their original numbers the population of Southern Right whales off South Africa have been recovering and the numbers are growing by about 7%.

Southern Right Whale – Description

The Southern Right whale measures up to between 14-18 meters in length and weighs between 50 and 60 tons. It is very easy to identify as it has no dorsal fin and there are no pleats or throat grooves. Their tail flukes are large and pointed at the tips and the head is very large with a deeply arched jaw-line. Their head and back at roughly at the same level. Individual Southern Right whales are distinguished by the white callosities on the head, with the largest of these being the “bonnet” which is found on the front of the snout. Generally the body colour is dark grey to black with some white patches on the under parts. The pectoral fins are shaped like paddles. The Southern Right whale usually blows when much of the back is exposed and when diving, the flukes are clear of the water.

Southern Right Whale – Feeding

Known as a baleen whale, the Southern Right Whale ( Eubalaena Australis) spends the southern hemisphere summers in Antarctica feeding and then moving to the warmer latitudes during the winter months to calve and mate. Southern Right Whales fall under the suborder Mysticetes which are characterized by having baleen rather than teeth.  Baleen whales do not have teeth but instead they have baleen plates consisting of an elastic, horny material which forms fringed plates which hang from the upper jaw of the Whales mouth, almost like venetian blinds. Southern Right Whale baleen consists of long black plates measuring up to 2m long. When these whales feed they swim with the mouths open engulfing plankton or krill in the huge mouths. The Blue whale may take in as much as 70 tons of water in each mouthful. The whale then shuts its mouth and presses its tongue up against its palate and in so doing forces the water out of the mouth while trapping the plankton and krill on a mat of overlapping baleen plates. The hairs on the inner edge of the baleen plates act as a sieve, separating tiny Planktonic prey from the water. Although Southern Right whales do feed on krill their principal food is small crustaceans known as copepods.

Breeding

A typical pod of Southern Right whales normally consists of fewer than 6 individuals which is usually a family unit. After a gestation period of 12 months a single calf is born weighing in at around 1 ton and having a length of 6 meters. Calves are often white and grow about 3 cm per day and while suckling will feed on about 600 liters of milk per week. Southern Right whales give birth in South African waters from about June to September, generally peaking in August. Females normally give birth every 3 years.

Whale viewing

The easiest and most commonly seen whale seen close inshore in South Africa during the months of May to December is the Southern Right. Some of the best viewing sites for this species are

• Walker Bay in Hermanus
• De Hoop Nature Reserve

Hermanus is considered one of the best land-based whale watching venues in the world.

Southern Right – wikipedia

General information regarding the trail

• De Hoop Nature Reserve is 230 km from Cape Town International airport.(Transfer to & from Potberg for your own cost, can be arranged) Please ensure that your flight arrives in the morning and get to Potberg at around 14h00.
• The route stretches over 58km from Potberg to Koppie Alleen and includes 5 overnight stops.
• Trail limit is 12 people per trip (10 guests) and is termed “slack-packing”, a term used when one has the convenience of a portage facility. Hikers need only to carry a small day-pack with water, camera, rain jacket, sun screen etc.
• The trail is exclusive in that you will not meet other hikers on the trail.
• The trail will be fully catered for and special dietary requirements met as far as possible.
• Requirements: sleeping bag, day pack, hiking boots & clothing.

(Hiring of equipment can be arranged)

• Accommodation on the trail is in a series of cottages with mostly 3 bedrooms with 4 bunk beds each.
• A 70 liter container is issued to each person for personal belongings and this is transported to the next overnight stop.

Requirements and assumptions:

• It is a requirement that all hikers have adequate medical cover to facilitate any potential medical emergency, and relevant evacuation that may arise or be required while on a Whale Trail guided and provided for by Africansunroad. This assumption also applies to individual family members of family groups. All Whale Trail hikers are required to be fit enough to complete 2Km/h in mountainous terrain, this equates to 5Km/h on level terrain to enable the completion of the daily hikes.

Includes the following:

• Professionally Guided (FGASA Field Guides and Marine, Cape Tour & Wine Guide)
• First Aid & back-up assistance

Excludes:

• Any medical costs relating to a medical emergency, and relevant evacuation that may arise while on a Whale Trail.
• Any additional accommodation either before or after the trail, or as advertised by Africansunroad.
• Accommodation and meals should a hikers leave, or be removed from the trail for any reason including medical.
• Drinks at restaurants.
• Unscheduled taxi transfers and other transportation to or from the De Hoop Reserve.
• Loss or damage to Africansunroad client vehicles parked at Potberg, before, during or after the hike.
• Cost of removal or evacuation of persons on the Whale Trail Hike guided by Africansunroad.
• Loss or damage to equipment used on the trail.