Lost Southern Right whale enters Wallis Lake, Forster
Locals who call a popular tourist hub home on the NSW mid-north coast welcomed an unusually rare visitor inside the town’s lake.
Hundreds of locals and even a few holiday-makers gathered around Wallis Lake on the NSW Mid North Coast on Tuesday when a 15-metre long whale swam into shallow water.
According to local media, the massive Southern Right whale was first spotted swimming along the sandbanks of Wallis Lake on the western side of the Forster-Tuncurry bridge on Tuesday around 7.30am, where it remained at 4pm.
The whale ventured towards oyster farms before circling back near the bridge in an effort to make its way into open waters.
Despite some reports concluding the whale had left the lake for open water, the Great Lake Advocate reported the mammal was still in the estuary.
Speaking to ORRCA vice-president, Jools Farrell speculated the whale could have swum up the Wallamba River during the night and had returned to the western side of the Forster Tuncurry bridge earlier this morning.
“It is definitely still there in virtually the same place as yesterday,” Ms Farrell said.
She said the whale was first spotted this morning at approximately 7.30am.
Local authorities advised SUPs and kayaks to keep their distance, with National Parks and Wildlife Services putting a special 500 metre protection order preventing boats, aircraft and drones as well as swimmers from approaching the whale.
The order extends to people who have been pictured congregating on the Forster Tuncurry bridge – which the whale must pass under to return to the ocean.
According to marine biologists, southern right whales in the south eastern portion of Australia are highly endangered, with around 270 individuals left including only 68 breeding females.
In an interview with the Great Lakes Advocate, local photographer Shane Chalker said the whale had so far done “10 circuits down to the bridge and back to the oyster leases”.
“It’s been backwards and forwards; it’s done about 10 circuits down to the bridge and back to the oyster leases,” Mr Chalker said.
“But, it looks very calm and relaxed.
“It seems to be able to navigate the sandbanks.”
Some spectators speculated the bridge’s pylons were interfering with its natural navigation instincts.