Humpback escort pod is observed when a bachelor male is travelling with a female Humpback and during this time of the year many females are travelling with new calves. It results in a pod of three whales, a mother and calf being escorted by a protective bachelor male. He is not the father of the calf but a male that has approached the mother whale at some point on their migration south who she has accepted into her pod. The male will take on his role as protector to ensure no other bachelor males or predators such as shark and/or Orca cause any concern to his female and in turn will also help to protect her calf. It is an interesting pod dynamic as Humpback Whales do not mate for life or live in established family pods. The males will protect both mother and calf with all they have and it is this loyalty and nurturing nature which is such a special quality in the Humpback species.
Today we had a few Humpback escort pods with the boys doing their jobs well in protecting and guarding the females. During the midday tour one male launched into incredible head lunging as he communicated to an approaching pod not to come any closer as his female was not interested in socialising and was instead looking for somewhere comfortable to sleep. It worked as the approaching pod changed course and fantastic to watch just how effective the Language of the Whales can be in these conversations between pods. The calves were also very boisterous and excitable today as on our morning tour one youngster breached over and over just off our bow before following up with pec slapping to encourage the other calves to approach. It was another brilliant day with the Humpback Whales of Western Australia and fantastic to see them all enjoying their time in the sighting grounds.
