Baby whale meanders through the port
A juvenile whale made an unexpected appearance at Richards Bay’s Small Craft Harbour.
THERE was great excitement around noon on Thursday when a juvenile whale made an unexpected appearance at Richards Bay’s Small Craft Harbour.
To the delight – but also the concern – of many onlookers, the unusual visitor swam right in front of the yacht marina and the Protea Waterfront Hotel, at times giving the impression it was stuck on shallow sand banks.
Judged to be about 5m in length, it proceeded into the main harbour towards RBCT before apparently leaving through the breakwater channel and heading back to sea, hopefully to reunite with the pod.
According to whale-watcher Berno Phillipson of Advantage Tours, who studied photos of the whale, it was a juvenile Humpback.
‘Looking at the strange shape of its head, it appears there may have been some earlier trauma.
‘But Humpback whales will swim in shallow water and we do see them at the breakwater in Richards Bay and the channels are more than deep enough for them.
‘The juveniles are extremely inquisitive and often wander off from the adults while exploring the surroundings.’
