Help DOC track nationally endangered southern right whales

Date: 18 June 2008

DOC is calling on the public to help with crucial research by reporting sightings of nationally endangered southern right whales (tohora).

Southern right whales are easy to see from the shore, measuring on average over 14 meters long, and they are the species of whale most likely to be seen close in to beaches.

A recent sighting of three whales close off the Otago coast at Taiaroa Head, and a sighting from a tourist vessel in Dusky Sound, signalled the start of this year's whale migration season and the Department of Conservation's annual southern right whale research programme.

Southern right whale, Kisbee, at
Preservation Inlet

DOC national marine mammal coordinator Steve Smith says "Southern right whales spend a large portion of their winter breeding months (June - September) very close to the shore in sheltered waters, sometimes resting on the bottom with their blowholes above the surface. This is exciting - it's a rare opportunity for members of the public to see spectacular large whales from the coast and to help DOC with crucial research."

DOC asks the public to report sightings of the whales to its 0800 DOCHOT line (0800 36 24 68) and, if possible, to photograph the whales. Photographs are used to identify the whales because each whale has a unique pattern of callosities (callous type growths which host a variety of marine lice, worms and barnacles) around their head. Photos that show the left side of the head and the full body length are the most valuable for identification.

"Since the start of our research programme four years ago, we've received a lot of good quality photographs from the public that have helped us to identify individual whales. In the last four years around fifteen individual genetic samples have been obtained from whales around New Zealand, largely thanks to tip-offs from the public.

"These observations have increased our knowledge of this rare and nationally endangered marine mammal, but to ensure a secure future for these whales we need to obtain about thirty unique samples in total, so we have several more to collect," said Mr Smith.

The purpose of DOC's research is to clarify the relationship between the whales that are seen around mainland New Zealand and those that are known to be from the New Zealand subantarctic region.

"It is possible that the whales around the mainland are geographically separated from those that breed further south. To date no movements of the whales between these areas has been documented.

"If the mainland whales do represent a smaller separate population we need to know about it. We can then take measures to ensure the whales have the right level of protection from any potential impacts, such as marine farms, ship strikes and coastal developments," said Mr Smith.

What to look for

Adult southern right whales are on average 14.5m long, and newborn calves, between 4.5m and 6m. They are mostly black in colour and can be identified by their lack of a dorsal fin, a V-shaped blowhole spray, and white growths on their heads called callosities. Each whale has a unique callosity pattern.

What to do if you see a southern right whale

Southern right whale sightings should be reported to DOC, preferably as soon as possible after the sighting is made, on 0800 DOCHOT line (0800 36 24 68). DOC needs to know the date, time and location of the sighting; the number of whales; whether there were any calves; and their direction of travel.

Photos help identify individual whales, especially those of the left side of the head, and of the full body length.

Whales should be approached slowly, quietly and cautiously, and no closer than 50m, preferably from behind or parallel to them. Boaties are requested not to obstruct their path, cut through a group or separate mothers from calves, and to turn off their engines if a whale approaches their vessel. Making sudden noises may startle the animals and should be avoided. Aircraft should keep a 150m distance from whales and not fly directly over them.

Additional background

The whales were hunted extensively along the coasts of New Zealand from the beginning of the 19th century, resulting in a population collapse from approximately 17,000 whales to about 1000 today.

They are called southern right whales for the wrong reasons - named by early whalers because they are slow moving, were easily hunted, float when dead and provided large quantities of valuable oil and whalebone. They were therefore the 'right' whale to hunt!