Below Marine Drive, Hermanus (100m from Old Harbour) | Tel: +27 (0)28 312 3454 | Fax: +27 (0)28 312 3026 | Email: bientang@iafrica.com
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RESTAURANT HOURS
LUNCH: 11:30AM – 4:00PM
(all year round, weather permitting)
DINNER: IN SEASON: MOST EVENINGS FROM 7:00PM - 9:30PM
OFF SEASON: FRIDAY & SATURDAY FROM 7:00PM - 9:00PM
(depending on weather & bookings)
WEEK NIGHTS: BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT |
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Research Source: WHALES, DOLPHINS, & PORPOISES - Mark Carwardine
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Whales, dolphins and porpoises all belong to a single group of marine mammals known as Cetaceans. A total of 81 different species are recognised by whale experts , but new ones are still being discovered.
There are two main types of Cetacean: Toothed Whales, or Odontocetes, which possess teeth and the Baleen Whales, or Mysicetes, which do not. There are only 11 species of Baleen Whales (Mysticetes), these include most of the larger whales, such as the Southern Right, the Bryde’s and the Humpback Whale. Although they are enormous, they feed on tiny prey. Their vast jaws enable them to catch thousands of planctonic organisms, such as krill and copepods, which they filter from the water through the baleen plates hanging from the roofs of their mouths. They have two blow-holes, side by side.
The majority of Cetaceans are Odontocetes (toothed whales) of which there are 70 species, these include the Killer Whale (Orca), Sperm Whales and all the dolphins and porpoises. They hunt and eat relatively large single prey, such as squid, octopus, fish and seabirds. They have a single blow-hole.
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International Society of Photographers
Award winning photograph by G. Negra
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WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
BREACHING:
One of the most spectacular sights in nature is a breaching whale. Lifting their entire bodies out of the water in massive, graceful leaps. The splash can be heard from 1km away or more. Scientists are not yet sure why they do this, the behaviour may be related to the dislodging of parasites or maybe they are just expressing joyfulness and having fun. It is certainly a visual and audible form of communication and seems to be contagious as mothers and calves and other pairs often breach in unison.
LOBTAILING:
A whale will raise its tail flukes or pectoral fins and slap the water hard, producing loud claps. This may be done repeatedly and sends an audible and visual signal with a variety of meanings: a sign of alarm or annoyance, or a warning to boats, rival whales or sharks, or simply enjoying the sensation of the wind. They also use their pectoral fins for reassurance, or to caress one another during courtship.
SPY HOPPING:
They lift their heads and part of their bodies out of the water vertically, enabling them to view the world above the water. They have well developed eyesight for beneath and above the surface of the water.
SAILING:
The flukes (tails) are raised vertically out of the water, using their tails as sails, allowing themselves to be blown along the water. This appears to be a form of play, because they will often swim back to the starting point and do it again.
Perhaps they are cooling themselves in the breeze, feeding on organisms below the surface, or just showing off their tails.
BLOWING:
Thar she blows!
One of the easiest ways of spotting a whale in the distance. It varies in height, shape and visibility among species. A hollow, whooshing sound is made when air is expelled from the lungs through the blowhole, accompanied by a highly visible spout of water vapour (a mix of seawater, mucous and condensation from the animals hot breath.
GRUNTING:
A loud, low frequency bellowing , belching sound that carries up to 2kms, underwater sounds have been detected up to hundreds of kilometers away.
Most often heard at night and in breeding areas
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“The 20th century has seen the depletion of many species,
some may never recover”
- Wyland
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SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE
EUBALAENA AUSTRALIS
The Southern Right Whales were so named by whalers because they were the ‘right’ whale to hunt. The fact that it was slow, docile and rich in oil and baleen, and floated when killed, resulted in this slow-moving leviathan becoming one of the most ruthlessly hunted of all whale species. The Northern and Southern Right came very close to extinction, but have been protected
since 1937. The Northern Right is probably closer to extinction than any other large whale, estimated at less than 1, 000 and may never recover. Only the Southern Right is showing signs of recovery. There are an estimated 4, 000 - 6, 000 at present.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- They have two blow-holes of equal size and have a wide V-shaped ‘blow’ as high as 5m;
- Black, blue/grey or dark brown with occasional white markings, and have callosities (hard outgrowths of skin) that appear around it’s head a useful form of identification;
- Their bodies are stocky and fat, smoothly round without a dorsal fin;
- Top speed of 17km/h, but usually move at a modest rate of between 0.5 and 4km/hr;
- The maximum diving depth is about 300m;
- Adults are approximately 14 - 18 meters long and weigh approximately 46, 000kg (30 - 80 tons) up to 800 times heavier than the average (75kg) man;
- On average females have their first calves at 5 to 10 years and give birth every 3 to 4 years;
- Calves are 5 - 6 meters long at birth and weigh 1.5 tons. Daily they consume approximately 100 litres of milk, and grow 2.8cm each day. Lactation lasts for 4 - 8 months;
- Life span is unknown, but in excess of 50 years and up to 100 years.
“If people see the beauty in nature,
they will work to preserve it before it’s too late.”
- Wyland
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