Humpback calf fluke identification is a big part of every tour as we have the opportunity to document and id members of the next generation of Western Australian Humpback Whales. Today was cosy with a cloud covered sky causing the sighting grounds to feel very snug and dotted with sleepy mums and calves making the most of a Monday morning sleep-in opportunity. Brewing over near Rottnest Island was a commotion as white water ruffled the waters surface and a pod was moving quickly. Arriving we could see a mother whale, her very cute calf and two males charging after each other in a rather rushed effort. The male who had been travelling with the female (known as an escort) was doing a very good job of blocking the white bellied challenger. The bachelor male was not impressed as every time he tried to get closer to the female he was quickly blocked by the escort, all the fluke swiping and trumpeting in the world wasn’t going to change that for the challenging male!
He certainly wore his heart on his sleeve as it was very clear to see what this challenger was feeling as frustration grew with every manoeuvre attempt thwarted by the very quick moving escort male and an incredibly loud trumpet exhalation would follow by the challenger. Eventually the challenger decided just to keep following them and at this time two mums and calves nearby surfaced. It was playtime for the calves as they practiced their tail lobs which gave us a great opportunity to get some of the Humpback calf fluke identification images we try to capture whenever possible. The fluke of a calf will grow and change dramatically in the years to come but the initial scars will remain and assist us in recognising them in future seasons. One of the most important reasons to identify calves during those first few months of life enables us to monitor the lifespan of the WA Humpback population much more accurately as we know an approximate month of birth for these little ones being first observed at such a young age. A further mum and calf had heard all the commotion as well and began to approach the others as she appeared to be also preparing to leave the sighting grounds on this lovely morning as we wished them well for the long journey ahead.
