An “inquisitive” humpback whale that wandered from its traditional migratory route and into the centre of Sydney Harbour is inflicting “navigational challenges” for ferries and vessels as its tour of the world-famous harbour continues.
The sub-adult whale was noticed by commuters on a harbour ferry service close to Fort Denison about 8am on Wednesday. It swam to Round Quay – Sydney’s central ferry terminal – earlier than shifting east in the direction of the defence base of Backyard Island then to Watsons Bay and north to Balmoral Bay.
By late afternoon on Wednesday, the humpback had once more looped west earlier than doubling again to Rose Bay in Sydney’s east.
Talking from a New South Wales Maritime boat shadowing the creature, the whale professional Dr Vanessa Pirotta stated it was “not every day a whale takes a detour and hangs out in Watsons Bay”.
Its harbour journey was posing a “navigational challenge” for ferries and vessels, she stated.
“NSW Maritime and NSW National Parks and Wildlife are literally escorting a school bus-sized mammal out of the harbour,” she stated. “It’s so easy for vessels to strike whales.
“They do things when you least expect it – [we’re] making sure it has space and is escorted out of the harbour, because this one is very inquisitive.”
A NSW Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson stated its crews had been in small boats shifting alongside the whale because it swam freely within the harbour.
To keep away from unintended collisions and to maintain the animal secure within the “very busy city harbour”, they stated the vessels keep in formation to the aspect and rear of the whale to mark an exclusion zone and cease different vessels from getting too shut.
Transport for NSW stated the whale brought about minimal delays and disruption to its F3 Parramatta service at about 9am. Ferries weren’t being affected on Wednesday afternoon, however Transport for NSW was “keeping a close eye” on the whale’s actions.
A Transport for NSW Maritime spokesperson stated it was managing ferry and different boat visitors to permit secure passage of the whale via the harbour.
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Whereas it’s commonplace for a whale to briefly go away the “humpback highway” working up and down Australia’s east coast – 4 humpbacks have been seen within the harbour this migratory season, Pirotta stated – it was “crazy” for the creatures to be as inquisitive and explorative as this one.
“Most will hang out around Manly and then work out it’s not in the right place and swim away, but this one is having the full harbour experience,” Pirotta stated.
“It’s the most inquisitive whale. It’s thin but, from its behaviour, it’s very relaxed.”
In Balmoral Bay on Sydney’s north shore, the whale was on Wednesday afternoon seen swimming near a paddle boarder with onlookers watching from the seaside.
“This whale continues to surprise me,” Pirotta stated. “It’s just hanging out and in such shallow water – I’d expect this from a southern right whale, not a humpback whale.”
She stated the whale’s situation – which she described as “OK” – urged it was migrating south and that it may need entered the harbour in a single day.
Pirotta stated the Wild Sydney Harbour undertaking had “delivered” after commuters noticed the whale. One social media person stated the whale had delayed a ferry on Wednesday morning.
The sighting was an opportunity to assemble information and pictures of the creature, Pirotta stated, including that each time she watched whales she discovered “so much more about them”.
