Commuter traffic gives way for whales on Australia's humpback highway
PORT STEPHENS, Australia — The ferry was late, but not because of the usual traffic. Sydney commuters watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, halting the vessel's passage across the harbor. The curious mammals seemed to be watching them back.
In June and July, it's not uncommon for whales to stop water traffic in Sydney. Winter heralds the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in freezing Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland state.
'It's blubber to blubber,' said Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book 'Humpback Highway.' During peak traffic periods the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centers where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – anyplace you can see the ocean.
The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is due to their size – adults can be 16-17 meters (52-56 feet) in length, and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 10,000km (6,000 mile) journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore.
'They are incredibly curious,' said Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbor this year where they've literally halted traffic.'
Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars.
Some keen whale watchers seek a closer look. On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbor north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby.
He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script .
Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy,' playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. In another episode, a whale peeled away from its pod and rushed to the boat, 'like a dog greeting its master at the gate,' he said.
It lounged for 40 minutes in the water, rubbing its massive fins against the vessel. 'It was like, 'Oh, there's that boat I really like,' said Armstrong.
Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breathtaking aerial maneuvers.
'It was unbelievable to me,' Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.'
The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963.
The humpback boom to about 40,000 since has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. That means more entanglements with fishing nets or run-ins with watercraft.
Where and when they appear has become less predictable too, with whales in recent years giving birth to calves the size of small cars in unexpected places. Harvesting of krill, which humpbacks eat in bulk, and heating seas due to climate change could be altering their migratory patterns, Pirotta said.
The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet.
'It grounds you, I think,' said Armstrong, the boat skipper. 'It makes you realize there's a lot more out there than what we think there is in nature.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Forbes
Sundarbans National Park Is Home To Swimming Tigers And Fierce Snakes
The name "Sundarbans" means "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language. While India boasts top-tier wildlife preserves like Ranthambore National Park and Gir National Park, those who venture to the Bangladesh border can find a truly spectacular ecotourism destination in the form of Sundarbans National Park. Established back in 1984, this sprawling preserve measures in at 1,330 square kilometers, serving as a crucial haven for South Asia's native mangrove forests—and in addition to vast swathes of indigenous flora, the Sundarbans are also perfect for encountering a staggering array of creatures both large and small. While native fauna spans from the northern river terrapin to the Asian small-clawed otter, the park is best known for one animal in particular: the Bengal tiger. While this subspecies can be found across a large portion of South Asia, the Sundarbans population has perfectly adapted to life in the mangroves, providing visitors with an opportunity to marvel at the beasts as they thrive in a unique habitat. Throughout the day, the park's resident tigers can be found paddling through the brackish waters as they search for food—and if you're truly lucky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the animals in action, with mammals like the chital deer and wild boar serving as prey for the local felines. Despite the name, the buffy fish owl also feeds on crustaceans, amphibians and reptiles. Beyond big cats, the murky waters of the Sundarbans play host to a wealth of fish and crustacean species—and this high concentration of biomass serves as the perfect buffet for all sorts of native birds. Waders abound along the many mangroves, with the Asian openbill, painted stork and little egret being just a few of the avian species that can be spotted during a visit, while eye-catching passerines range from the purple-rumped sunbird to the eastern yellow wagtail. And when it comes to raptors, birders can keep their eyes peeled for a wealth of majestic species, with crested serpent eagles, black kites and buffy fish owls all calling the park home. While the verdant treetops of Sundarbans National Park are brimming with all sorts of birds, visitors can also encounter a wide range of reptiles during a foray into the mangroves. Amidst the many water monitors and garden lizards, guests might catch a glimpse of a snake lounging along the preserve, with resident species spanning from the Russell's viper to the king cobra, a colossal creature that's capable of measuring in at more than five meters in length. However, when it comes to true ferocity, it's tough to beat the saltwater crocodile. While their native range spans from northern Australia to the Tamil Nadu coast, the Sundarbans play host to a particularly large population, providing plenty of opportunities to spot these colossal reptiles in the flesh. The king cobra is the earth's longest venomous snake. After a few days spent exploring the vibrant food scene and rich culture of Kolkata, Sundarbans National Park is perfect for a deep dive into the India of yore, with the diverse flora and fauna thriving across the region as they have for eons. Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher, a hardcore herpetologist or just a casual wildlife aficionado, this storied preserve is certain to leave you with lasting memories of the rich beauty of West Bengal and all of its native creatures.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- New York Times
A Special ‘Climate' Visa? People in Tuvalu Are Applying Fast.
As sea levels rise, Australia said it would offer a special, first-of-its-kind 'climate visa' to citizens of Tuvalu, a Polynesian island nation of atolls and sandbars where waters are eating away at the land. The visa lottery opened last week, and already nearly half of Tuvalu's population has applied. By any measure, Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world. It's home to just 10,000 or so people scattered across nine small coral islands that add up to less than 10 square miles. It has been losing land to rising seas and further losses could make it one of the first countries to become uninhabitable because of climate change. Seawater is increasingly seeping into the country's few drinking-water wells. Within a century, some scientists predict, the twice-daily high tide alone will inundate more than 90 percent of the country's capital, the island of Funafuti, as well as Tuvalu's only airport. Most Tuvaluans live on Funafuti, which is just a few feet above sea level. Concerns like these underpinned an agreement two years ago between Tuvalu and Australia, with the latter pledging not just to help build sea walls but to grant a special visa to 280 Tuvaluans per year that would 'provide a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen.' The agreement, known as the Falepili Union treaty, allows grantees to obtain permanent residency and move freely between the countries. But both countries have taken pains to avoid using language that implies that Tuvalu may one day cease to exist. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Commuter traffic stops for whales on Australia's humpback highway
The ferry was late, but not because of the usual traffic. Sydney commuters watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, halting the vessel's passage across the harbour. The curious mammals seemed to be watching them back. In June and July, it is not uncommon for whales to stop water traffic in Sydney. Winter heralds the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in freezing Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland state. 'It's blubber to blubber,' said Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book Humpback Highway. During peak traffic periods the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centres where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – any place you can see the sea. The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is because of their size – adults can be 52ft to 56ft long and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 6,000 mile journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore. 'They are incredibly curious,' said Ms Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbour this year where they've literally halted traffic.' Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars. Some keen whale watchers seek a closer look. On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbour north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby. He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Mr Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script. Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy', playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breath-taking aerial manoeuvres. 'It was unbelievable to me,' Mr Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.' The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the southern hemisphere in 1963. The humpback boom to about 40,000 since has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet.
