A rare whale seen at a Sydney wharf has delighted and excited scientists and families as it frolicked in the warm summer water.
Marine scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta, who on Sunday travelled to Antarctica on a day flight as a science ambassador, was astounded to see the vision of what she believes is a juvenile Antarctic minke whale swimming under and around the Bundeena ferry wharf in Sydney’s south on Monday morning.
“A sighting like this is an incredible one. To see an animal like that at this time of year in shallow waters is also unusual,” she said.
Based on vision shared by Cronulla & National Park Ferry Cruises, Pirotta said she believed the whale was a juvenile in fairly good condition. Antarctic minke whales have been observed travelling north, but it is extremely rare to see the whales in Sydney in the middle of summer.
Pirotta said she had never observed this species of whale before.
The marine science community is considering several theories as to why the whale would venture so close to land and in such shallow, warm waters. The whale may have been following food, or it may have become lost.
An Antarctic minke whale in the Amundsen Sea.Credit: Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
There may also be some unknown factors at play in the ocean causing the whale to move out of deeper water.
“It’s a perfect reminder that Sydney is at the doorstep of an amazing ocean system,” Pirotta said.
Ferry skipper Steven Sayre was pulling into Bundeena about 9am when he saw the crowd peering over the edge of the wharf.
Sayre said he is used to seeing whales in the distance in the usual whale spotting season from May to November, but that he had never seen one approach so close to the wharf.
‘It’s a perfect reminder that Sydney is at the doorstep of an amazing ocean system’
Vanessa Pirotta, whale expert
“It was swimming under the wharf. Lots of pictures were being taken. People were very excited about it,” he said.
Antarctic minke whales can grow to nine metres long and weigh about 10 tonnes when fully grown.
Unlike their cousins, the common minke, which are frequently seen around Australia, the Antarctic minke mostly favours open pack ice (areas with lots of open water among the ice) in summer months, according to the Australian Antarctic Program.
They are generally regarded as inquisitive whales and they are known to approach moving ships.
Pirotta said while vision captured by onlookers was crucial in helping marine scientists answer some of the many questions posed by this sighting, people should be careful to give the animals plenty of space.
“Although the humpback highway might not be blubber to blubber at this time of year, the road rules still apply. Keep at least 100 metres away from a whale on the water and from the drone,” she said.
Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.